HOLMES CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT THREAT OF CUTS TO DERBYSHIRE POLICE

Speaking in Parliament today, during the Ministers announcement of the Local Government Funding for 2008 -2009, Paul challenged the Minister to explain how he could describe the settlement as "a fair one for the Derbyshire Police Authority".

Paul told the Commons:

"Derbyshire Police have been under funded for years - they had been the fifth lowest funded in the country. They had up to 230 fewer police officers than the other areas they were compared to by the Government. The Government had admitted two years ago that the Police Authority (like Derbyshire Fire Brigade and Derbyshire Councils) were under funded and had worked out a new formulae but then refused to pay the difference -that they themselves said Derbyshire needed."

"Today's statement confirms that for the next three years that is not going to change."

"Each year for the next three years Derbyshire Police not only have to 'save' £4.5Million every year but even then they will be £3Million short, each year, of what they need."

Paul said afterwards "They can either cut policing or they can put the Police share of the Council Tax up by more than 5% (if the Government will allow them to) -or they can do a bit of both."

"In 2009 it gets even worse because the Government funding for PCSO's comes to an end and Derbyshire will have to pick up the whole cost of those too!"

"This is a disgrace and makes a mockery of all Labour's claims on law and order."