Taking it to the Top - Cheadle Constituency MP Mark Hunter presents over 5000 signature petition to No.10

3.02.27pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Mar 2007

Mark Hunter and Helen Foster-Grime, handing the petition into No. 10

Local MP Mark Hunter, last week took the 'Stop the Police Cuts' campaign to Downing Street. Mark accompanied by three of his Greater Manchester Parliamentary colleagues and local activists presented a 5,000 strong petition. The petition demands that government stops the under-funding of our local police force which last year led to the loss of 216 local police numbers.

Speaking to regional television shortly afterwards, Mark said:

"Last year we lost 216 Police Officers in Greater Manchester and crime went up. Yet future police budgets look just as dire over the next two years with a further £27 million being withheld. Local people share my anger that Labour Government funding cuts are making our streets less safe. To tackle anti-social behaviour locally we need more police on the streets not fewer!"

In presenting the petition, Mark lent his support to Michael Todd, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, who recently claimed the lack of resources from central Government had forced him to reduce the number of police officers below the minimum he regards as necessary to police Greater Manchester.

"When our Chief Constable says that he no longer has enough officers to police our streets it is time for action and time for the government to sit up and listen. That is why my Parliamentary colleagues and I presented this 5,000 strong petition. It is vital that the government appreciate the depth and strength of feeling that local people have on this issue. Local people remember how damaging it was when police numbers fell under the last Conservative Government." said Mark.

Mark and his colleagues have been fighting relentlessly in Parliament to stop the police cuts in our area; they have asked questions of the Prime Minster, lobbied the Home Secretary and led special Westminster Hall debates.

To show your support for their campaign, contact your local Liberal Democrat office on 0161 485 6560 for a petition slip.