News Release

3rd November 2004

STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE FUNDING

Following a meeting yesterday between Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears, and the Staffordshire Police Authority Chairman and Treasurer, the Chief Constable of Staffordshire, and some Staffordshire MPs, Michael Fabricant says: "We all expressed our deep concern to the minister that cuts which could be forced on Staffordshire Police next year would jeopardise all the improvements we have enjoyed in recent years. Up to 75 community police officers might have to be re-assigned to other duties or lost. We all felt this to be unacceptable. Hazel Blears sympathised and understood the problem but was unable to assure us that adequate funding would be made available.

"Later I raised this matter personally and informally with the Home Secretary, David Blunkett. He is very much aware of the pensions crisis facing Staffordshire Police and which will cost £4.9 million in 2005-06.

"Unless the Government provides adequate funding, either Council Tax will have to rise substantially - and possibly beyond permissible limits allowed by Government - or there will have to be major cuts in Staffordshire policing. We expect to find out in the next 3 weeks what support the Treasury is willing to give" Michael adds. "If Government help is not available, we will have to hold a crisis meeting to decide what to do next".

There now follows a Statement from Michael Poulter Chairman of Staffordshire Police Authority:-

Statement from Michael Poulter, Chairman of the Staffordshire Police Authority, following the meeting of the Police Minister, Hazel Blears, with Staffordshire MPs, Chairman of the Police Authority, Chief Constable and Authority Treasurer, at the House of Commons, 4:30pm, 2 November 2004.

Hosted by Sir Patrick Cormack MP, Chairman of the Staffordshire group of MPs. Present: Janet Dean, Charlotte Atkins, Paul Farelly, Bill Cash, Michael Fabricant, Tony Wright and Joan Walley. David Kidney and Mark Fisher had already been separately briefed following the parliamentary lobby. Brian Jenkins was away in Northern Ireland.

Present from the Authority and Force: Michael Poulter, Chief Constable John Giffard and Police Authority Treasurer Richard Tettenbaun.

"The authority's presentation outlined the present impressive situation, a cadre of 274 dedicated Community Beat Officers, crime levels continuing to be forced down, detections increasing on a consistent basis, HMIC's Baseline Assessment, one of the best forces in the country and significant growth in public confidence and perception of community safety. A difficult financial settlement in the coming year leading to painful budget cuts would put this all at risk and could lead to significant deterioration in public confidence and morale as it could impact adversely on the Community Beat Programme.

"The MPs supported this presentation with warmth and enthusiasm. They stated to the minister that they had noted significant improvement in the policing in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and a marked growth in public confidence in their varied constituencies. This confidence would be severely dented and continued reduction in crime imperilled were significant budget cuts to be forced.

"Hazel Blears congratulated both force and authority on the magnificent performance figures of the force, significant reduction in crime, increase in detections and HMIC's excellent baseline assessment. She complimented Staffordshire for its Community Beat Officer scheme and said it should be developed further. She would not wish to see it reduced or endangered. She was most impressed by the number of MPs in attendance and those who had already indicated their support of police force and authority.

"She was impressed by the cross-party unanimity of their point of view - their support for ongoing improvements in policing within Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent and their support for the financial case made by the Treasurer, Chief Constable and Chairman.

"She acknowledged that Staffordshire Authority faced particular problems next year in terms of a bigger pension contribution requirement, larger than that of most other authorities in the country. MPs and the authority made the specific point that it was important that for just this one year there should not be a loss of momentum in the police reform programme, the Community Beat Officers scheme and the associated improvements in public confidence and community reassurance.

"The Minister outlined her commitment to the reassurance programme both nationally and in Staffordshire. She and the Home Secretary were doing their utmost to deliver resources to policing and pubic safety. She expressed her hope that the financial settlement she would announce in mid-November would go some way to meet the needs of policing nationally and also the problems faced in Staffordshire. Beyond that she could not allow herself to be drawn. She did state that floors would continue to support police authorities like Staffordshire and that the Staffordshire pensions increase should be somewhat accommodated in the policing formula for the county. She acknowledged that a strong case had been put by the MPs and the representatives of authority and force.

"The overall impression was that of very constructive meeting with unanimity of view from the Staffordshire MPs conveyed strongly to the Minister.