GOVERNMENT THREAT TO 'CAP' DERBYSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY IS A THREAT TO POLICING IN DERBYSHIRE

12.00.00am GMT Fri 27th Mar 2009

Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield Paul Holmes has condemned yesterdays Parliamentary announcement that the Government may intervene to force Derbyshire Police Authority to cap its Council Tax precept.

Commenting Paul said

"This would mean cuts in front line policing because of Government under funding.

"The Government have admitted for some years now that they give Derbyshire Police £6Million less per year than the Authority needs. The Authority is the second worst funded in the country.

"The Government also knows that Derbyshire Police Authority has been avoiding cutting front line policing by using its reserves to plug this gap in Government funding -but the reserves are running out.

"It is therefore outrageous for the Government to say that Derbyshire Police Authority are setting a budget beyond Government guidelines when the 8.68% proposed Council Tax increase (on the Police Precept only) allows only for a standstill budget and makes no provision at all for starting to meet the £6Million funding shortfall from the Government.

"People in Derbyshire do not want to see police numbers, out on the beat, cut because of the shortfall in Government funding. They would rather the Government paid Derbyshire Police what the Government itself says they should receive. Failing that Police Authority public consultation has shown public support for partially meeting the cost of government failure by increasing the Police Precept on the Council Tax."