Labour Slap In The Face For Derbyshire Police

12.00.00am GMT Wed 31st Jan 2007

During the Police grant debate today in the House of Commons, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield challenged Police Minister Tony McNulty MP when the Minister offered no hope at all that Derbyshire would get the money the Government itself says Derbyshire Police needs. Paul Holmes MP said:

"Your response is extraordinary. Your Government admitted that the old funding formula was wrong.

"Your Government introduced a new funding formula in 2006 that said Derbyshire Police needed over £5.5 million more per year.

"Your Government now say that they cannot have that money and should not complain about it."

Commenting after the debate, Paul Holmes MP added:

"This is outrageous. Derbyshire Police Standards are judged by the Government against similar authorities in West Mercia, which according to the Government should get £4 million less than Derbyshire but actually get £10 million more. Yet Derbyshire is told to expect no change. If Derbyshire were funded at the same level as Nottinghamshire we should have 240 more police officers on the streets. The Minister's response in Parliament today was a slap in the face for everyone in Derbyshire. Essentially telling Derbyshire to grin and bear it exposes the hollow sham of Labour's Respect Agenda and toughness on crime. The Chief Constable of Derbyshire has publicly warned that there is a serious prospect of "substantial cuts". The Minister today offered no prospect that Derbyshire Police would receive the funding that's needed."