5 April 2011

Local residents say: Don't cut our police -

A local survey has confirmed widespread opposition amongst local residents to cuts to the police.

I carried out a telephone survey in the Weoley area of the constituency in March. The survey helped to inform a public meeting about how the local community are going to deal with reductions to police numbers in our area caused by a 20% cut to the police budget.

Local residents were asked their opinion on cuts to the police budget. Of those that responded:

> 13% thought a 20% cut to the police budget is achievable without cutting frontline police numbers;

> 19% said that there are others way to cut deficit;

> 68% said that police budgets should not be cut.

Local residents are really concerned about the Conservative-led government’s plans to cut the West Midlands Police budget by 20%.

It's now clear that this will mean a reduction in the number of frontline policemen and women here in Birmingham – and, unfortunately, it looks like the officers we are going to lose will be our most experienced ones.

What's more, the impact on police officers, police civilian staff and services in our region will be disproportionate – compared to areas like Surrey, the West Midlands will be hit hard.

I will continue to work with local residents and my Labour colleagues across Birmingham to fight the cuts to our local police. We should be cutting crime, not the police.

NOTES:

The survey was carried out on 15th March 2011. 202 people responded to the survey – as follows: 26 (13%) a 20% cut to the police budget is achievable without cutting frontline police numbers; 39 (19%) there are others way to cut deficit; 137 (68%) police budgets should not be cut.

The public meeting I organised was held at Elim Pentecostal Church on Weoley Castle Square on 19th March 2011. It was attended by local residents and a local police commander from Bournville Lane police station.