THE UK economy is \u201csimply not working\u201d for neighbourhood policing, leaving the service in a \u201cperilous state\u201d in some areas, Chancellor Philip Hammond was told following his Spring Budget.<\/p>\n
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn listed police among the \u201cdedicated public servants\u201d who had not benefited from the economy and who had lacked a pay rise for seven years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chancellor made his boasts about a strong economy, but who is reaping the rewards of this economy? For millions it is simply not working,\u201d said the Labour leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot working for our neighbourhoods which have lost 20,000 police officers, leaving the force in a \u2018perilous state\u2019 in many parts of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hammond made no specific mention of policing in his speech, although spending for public order and safety was predicted to be around \u00a334bn for 2017\/18, the same figure predicted for 2016\/17.<\/p>\n
Former chancellor George Osborne told MPs in November 2015: \u201cNow is not the time for further police cuts. Now is the time to back our police and give them the tools to do the job. I am announcing there will be no cuts in the police budget at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police protect us, and we\u2019re going to protect the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) said it hoped that since Mr Hammond had not said anything specific about reneging on Osborne\u2019s statement, that the Government intended to \u201cuphold its promise to protect police budgets\u201d.<\/p>\n
PFEW chair Steve White said: \u201cOur officers are stretched beyond reasonable capacity, and we will continue to push this fact back to Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to protect the public, the police service must have the right investment.\u201d<\/p>\n