Mark Hunter MP

Working hard for Cheadle, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green, Woodford, Stepping Hill and parts of Hazel Grove - all year round!

Mark Hunter MP

Local MP Mark Hunter challenges Prime Minister over the police funding crisis in Greater Manchester

2.16.29pm GMT Wed 14th Mar 2007

Mark questioning Prime Minister over local police cuts

Mark questioning the Prime Minister over local police cuts

Today (14th March 2007), Mark Hunter MP for Cheadle questioned the Prime Minister at the weekly Prime Minister Questions session about the appalling lack of funding for the Greater Manchester Police Authority. This follows the presentation of a petition with over 5,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street 10 days ago calling for more funding for the GMPA.

As confirmed by the Labour run GMPA, the force is facing cuts of up to £39 million over the next three years, which could mean the loss of up to 600 police officers from the streets of the area. Further to this, the Chief Constable Michael Todd, informed Mr Hunter of a worrying £14 million a year of 'their' money subsidising the Metropolitan Police in London, a fact which is only increasing the funding crisis in our area.

The Prime Minister did not deny these figures or the problems facing the Greater Manchester Police, answering only with a comment about the new flexibility available for police authorities in the funds given to them, and that there were more officers now than when Labour took over from the Tories in 1997. He failed to make any assurances that action would be taken to resolve this funding crisis.

Commenting after Prime Minister's questions, Mark Hunter said, "The reply from the Prime Minister did not answer my question, and will have done nothing to reassure my constituents that the Government is prepared to do anything to resolve the funding crisis.

This funding shortfall will almost certainly lead to further cuts in local police numbers, a situation which is totally unacceptable. It is only with more bobbies on the beat that crime and antisocial behaviour can be tackled effectively.

I know this issue is important to local residents, because I constantly receive letters about the lack of community policing. Our area suffers from an inadequate police presence, with residents commenting that they only seem to respond in an emergency, like the Fire Brigade.

The Chief Constable has said that he needs 8,000 police men and women to patrol our area, but we have already lost over 200 in the last year. In this situation we need more funding for local policing, and certainly not less.

It is frankly scandalous that the Government is doing nothing to resolve this unacceptable lack of funding. I will continue to work to press the Government to give the Greater Manchester Police the money needed to ensure that the people of Cheadle have the local police presence they expect and deserve".

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook LibDigLibDig redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Comment on this news story.
Previous news story: Local MP Mark Hunter appalled at lack of local dentist provision (Tue 13th Mar 2007).
Next news story: Supporting Comic Relief - MP Mark Hunter visits local school children on Red Nose Day (Mon 19th Mar 2007).

Related News Stories:

Wed 21st Jul 2010:

Fri 16th Jul 2010:

Mon 14th Jun 2010:

Mon 19th Apr 2010:

Tue 6th Apr 2010:

Wed 17th Mar 2010:

Wed 24th Feb 2010:

Thu 28th Jan 2010:

Fri 18th Dec 2009:

Thu 10th Dec 2009:

Thu 26th Nov 2009:

Mon 16th Nov 2009:

Mon 9th Nov 2009:

Tue 13th Oct 2009:

Fri 25th Sep 2009:

Fri 14th Aug 2009:

Thu 13th Aug 2009:

Fri 17th Jul 2009:

Fri 3rd Jul 2009:

Fri 26th Jun 2009:

Wed 24th Jun 2009:

Tue 23rd Jun 2009:

Fri 19th Jun 2009:

Fri 12th Jun 2009:

Tue 9th Jun 2009:

Fri 5th Jun 2009:

Thu 4th Jun 2009:

Thu 21st May 2009:

Mon 18th May 2009:

Thu 7th May 2009:

Thu 23rd Apr 2009:

Mon 30th Mar 2009:

Thu 26th Mar 2009:

Thu 19th Mar 2009:

Thu 12th Mar 2009:

Wed 11th Mar 2009:

Thu 5th Mar 2009:

Thu 26th Feb 2009:

Sat 21st Feb 2009:

Thu 19th Feb 2009:

Fri 13th Feb 2009:

Thu 5th Feb 2009:

Wed 28th Jan 2009:

Tue 27th Jan 2009:

Tue 20th Jan 2009:

Mon 12th Jan 2009:

Fri 2nd Jan 2009:

Fri 19th Dec 2008:

Wed 17th Dec 2008:

Thu 20th Nov 2008:

Mon 10th Nov 2008:

Wed 5th Nov 2008:

Mon 27th Oct 2008:

Thu 23rd Oct 2008:

Tue 21st Oct 2008:

Mon 20th Oct 2008:

Wed 15th Oct 2008:

Fri 10th Oct 2008:

Thu 9th Oct 2008:

Fri 26th Sep 2008:

Mon 8th Sep 2008:

Tue 12th Aug 2008:

Tue 5th Aug 2008:

Mon 4th Aug 2008:

Fri 27th Jun 2008:

Wed 18th Jun 2008:

Tue 10th Jun 2008:

Fri 6th Jun 2008:

Mon 12th May 2008:

Sat 10th May 2008:

Fri 9th May 2008:

Thu 8th May 2008:

Tue 6th May 2008:

Tue 22nd Apr 2008:

Thu 13th Mar 2008:

Fri 7th Mar 2008:

Wed 5th Mar 2008:

Thu 28th Feb 2008:

Mon 18th Feb 2008:

Wed 30th Jan 2008:

Wed 23rd Jan 2008:

Wed 2nd Jan 2008:

Wed 12th Dec 2007:

Fri 16th Nov 2007:

Thu 15th Nov 2007:

Tue 16th Oct 2007:

Fri 14th Sep 2007:

Wed 13th Jun 2007:

Tue 22nd May 2007:

Tue 15th May 2007:

Mon 14th May 2007:

Wed 25th Apr 2007:

Mon 16th Apr 2007:

Thu 12th Apr 2007:

Thu 29th Mar 2007:

Wed 28th Mar 2007:

Fri 23rd Mar 2007:

Wed 21st Mar 2007:

Mon 19th Mar 2007:

Tue 13th Mar 2007:

Tue 6th Mar 2007:

Tue 23rd Jan 2007:

Thu 18th Jan 2007:

Wed 17th Jan 2007:

Thu 4th Jan 2007:

Mon 10th Jul 2006:

Fri 12th May 2006:

Thu 23rd Mar 2006:

Thu 16th Feb 2006:

Mon 6th Feb 2006:

Tue 24th Jan 2006:

Fri 15th Jul 2005:

Thu 14th Jul 2005:

Sun 10th Jul 2005:

Tue 28th Jun 2005:

Sun 26th Jun 2005:

Related Press Articles:

Tue 28th Jun 2005:

Related Speeches:

Wed 15th Oct 2008:

Tue 1st Jul 2008:

Wed 26th Mar 2008:

Wed 30th Jan 2008:

Tue 13th Mar 2007:

Tue 27th Feb 2007:

Wed 31st Jan 2007:

Tue 23rd Jan 2007:

Wed 28th Jun 2006:

Wed 18th Jan 2006:

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by K Holloway on behalf of Mark Hunter MP (Liberal Democrat), both at 3 Gillbent Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7LE
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.