Chancellor Leaves Gaping Hole In Police Budget

9.06.00am GMT Mon 6th Dec 2004

Local policing is under renewed financial pressure following the recent pre-Budget statement by Chancellor Gordon Brown. Susan Kramer, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats (Richmond Park) fears that it will undermine the attempts to increase police numbers and to expand the community policing model locally.

"The crime figures which were released last week showed that Richmond has a big problem with robberies up 58% in a year.

"These figures are eye popping and show that much needs to be done to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and to make our community feel safe and secure.

"The last thing local police chiefs in Richmond and Kingston need is a shortfall in funding. Across London, there is a danger that the budget will have an £83 million gap.

"I am concerned that this will have local repercussions. Will local police initiatives have to be scaled back to take account of this situation? Or will there be huge increases in the police bill for council tax payers locally?

"This Government cannot talk "law and order" and then under-fund the key community policing programmes that are the backbone of our safety."