#CutsHaveConsequences message spread at Parliament
CUTS to policing are impacting on communities, was the message from the Police Federation to prospective parliamentary candidates from all parties.
South Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Neil Bowles was at the event lobbying PPCs. Shadow police minister Jack Dromey spoke at the event (pictured), praising the #CutsHaveConsequences campaign and emphasising the importance of continuing to drive home the message to politicians of all parties. www.lessmeansless.co.uk
Representatives from both the national and local federations attended a reception in Parliament last week to speak with candidates about how the budget cuts have impacted on their areas and the service to the public.
Mr Bowles said: “I had a good conversation with Rosie Winterton – the Labour chief whip – and Ian Walker – the Conservative candidate for Sheffield Hallam about policing matters.
“Any meeting with a politician or prospective politician is useful. Much of the time the only time they are aware of something is when they have been briefed on it. So it provided a good opportunity to educated them about policing matters – the reality and the working conditions.”
A panel of PPCs included, Catherine Anderson, UKIP (Newbury), Dehenna Davison, Conservative (Hull North), Dr Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem (Chesham and Amersham) and Conor McGinn, Labour (St Helens North).
Ms Davison said she believed in local neighbourhood policing so the public could actually see the faces of those officers on the street.
The Lib Dem PPC spoke of a strong ‘national’ police force while the Labour candidate addressed previous frosty relations between the Federation and Westminster, saying they were looking forward to working more with the federation.
He added that the safety and security of the people in the UK was an absolute priority for him referring to retaining current police numbers.
The UKIP PPC said policing could not be cut to the bone, also suggesting more ‘affordable housing’ for officers and advocated repealing the Human Rights Act to ensure victims’ rights take precedence.