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City MP slams Minister for complacency on NEW police cuts

By 6 November 2018September 8th, 2022No Comments

Further £4 million costs could be imposed on Police by Government as Minister says Police have ‘exaggerated’ cut numbers

Today in the House of Commons Stephen Morgan MP pressed the Minister for Policing on a proposed £4 million additional burden on the already overstretched Hampshire Constabulary.

It was revealed last week that the Government plans to transfer up to £4 million in pension liabilities to the local police force in Hampshire. Hampshire Constabulary have already lost almost 1,000 officers and over £80 million from its budget since 2010 with a further £28 million to be cut over the next four years.

Mr Morgan asked the Minister: “Mr Speaker, did he really think we wouldn’t notice this cut in disguise? How many more officers will it cost Portsmouth?

The additional £4 million squeeze from the Government could result in 350 officer and staff roles being cut.

Stephen Morgan MP, said:

“The Minister’s answer today showed just how much contempt this Government has for frontline policing. To accuse our police of ‘exaggerating’ the impact of cuts really takes the biscuit.

After losing 1,000 officers and coming up to £100 million in funding, and crime up 10%,  the answer to our overstretched and underpaid force is not £4 million more in cuts – Portsmouth can’t take any more.

These cuts are reckless and ultimately making our city less safe. I won’t give up the fight for fairer funding to protect Portsmouth communities and the brave men and women who serve them.”

Mr Morgan regularly meets with the police chiefs and the Police Federation and goes out on patrol with local officers in Portsmouth.

He has repeatedly lobbied the Home Secretary and Prime Minister for fairer police funding, raising the issue in numerous letters and at Prime Ministers’ Question Time and holding a summit in Westminster with small businesses affected by the rise in crime.