MP JACK Dromey has praised the police service for \u201cfighting in the interest of public safety\u201d in the face of government cuts as he stands down from the Shadow Police Minister role.<\/p>\n
Mr Dromey has been appointed Shadow Minister for Labour in the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy team after three years as the party\u2019s Shadow Police Minister.\u00a0He has written to \u201ccolleagues and friends\u201d in policing to thank them for helping the public despite cuts to emergency services.<\/span><\/p>\n He pointed out that less than a year ago the police forced the Home Secretary into a last-minute u-turn on further funding reductions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew that cuts of 22 per cent, or even higher in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), on top of the 25 per cent cut in the last Parliament, would have been catastrophic for the service, and frankly dangerous for the general public,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cCredit to you for fighting in the interest of public safety and for advocating for what was right. As I am sure you well know, the overwhelming weight of public opinion was in your favour.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Dromey added that he hoped the government \u201cstarts listening\u201d and working to build a police service \u201cfit for the 21st century\u201d in recognition of the hard work carried out by officers.<\/p>\n \u201cYou often serve as the service of last resort, you are there when no one else is; on the street, in homes and in A&E departments,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAs a barrage of cuts shrinks away other public and social services, you are there for some of the most vulnerable people in society when they are most in need.<\/p>\n \u201cFor that I cannot thank you enough \u2013 on behalf of Labour, Parliament and the public.\u201d<\/p>\n See the full letter in Police Professional here: http:\/\/www.policeprofessional.com\/news.aspx?id=27840<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n