News Release

24th July 2002

STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE FUNDING

At a meeting at the House of Commons held this morning (Wednesday 24th July) between Staffordshire MPs and the Staffordshire Police Authority, the numbers of police officers available in the County were discussed in the light of the Government's Formula Grant Distribution Paper just issued by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. This Paper suggests future alternative ways the Government might fund local services including policing and education. Staffordshire continues to come out badly compared to other counties.

Under one funding option suggested by the Deputy Prime Minister, Staffordshire Police could gain by £1.2 million each year. Under others proposed by John Prescott, the police would be worse off with the worst-case option resulting in a cut of £5.1 million each year. As the Chairman of the Police Authority, Mike Poulter, and the Deputy Chief Constable pointed out to MPs, each £1 million is equivalent to 40 police officers. So in the worst case scenario, Staffordshire could see a cut in over 200 police officers. This would devastate the plans for community policing which will take effect from August 5th and has only been made possible by reorganisation in Staffordshire Police under the leadership of the Chief Constable.

Michael Fabricant says "All the Staffordshire MPs present - regardless of political Party - agreed that it is vital that Government Ministers are made to understand that a cut in policing is unacceptable. We, therefore, hope that the one option which slightly improves Staffordshire Police's finances, and could give us a further 80 policemen, is the option that the Government adopts. I will be writing and meeting with Home Office ministers to press this point. I am not, however, relaxed about this. The options suggested for funding Staffordshire education contained in the same Paper have disappointed teachers and parents alike."