Police funding reform blast

Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd

GREATER Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and interim Mayor Tony Lloyd has hit out at the Government’s police funding reform “shambles”.

Plans to reform the police funding formula had to be abandoned earlier this week after a catalogue of errors by Home Office officials prompted a 12-month delay to the process.

Methods used to work out funding for the 42 police forces in England and Wales have been called “unclear, unfair and out of date” by ministers.

The reform has already been redrawn twice in the face of unprecedented threats of legal action from both inner city and shire forces.

Now Mr Lloyd has written to policing minister Mike Penning to outline further concerns ahead of the comprehensive spending review later this month.

Mr Lloyd said: “This has been a complete shambles from the outset.

“We warned the Government that their proposals for police funding had not been properly thought through and the farce over the past week shows we were right.

“Our communities need, expect and deserve a police service that can deliver what is expected of it.

Vital

“That makes it vital that policing is funded in a fair, open and sustainable way. As we approach the spending review, it is important the Government learns from its mistakes and ensures we get a fair deal for policing.

“The people of Greater Manchester demand nothing less.”

Mr Lloyd has also written to the Shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, and all of Greater Manchester’s MPs and councillors to ask for their support.


Cuts continue to pile on the pressure...

GREAT work is being done across Greater Manchester but cuts are piling on the pressure.

That’s the view of Tony Lloyd who publishes a report each financial year for members of the public, partner agencies and stakeholders. These reports talk about the work Mr Lloyd is doing to achieve the objectives listed in the Police and Crime Plan.

He said: “This is an exciting time for Greater Manchester. Devolution brings with it the prospect of real and meaningful powers being transferred from the corridors of Whitehall to the streets of Greater Manchester — where it belongs.

“But it’s not a cure-all for austerity. Devolution gives us more control, but not more money.

“That is why I will continue working to radically reform our public services, ensuring we work better together, do more with less and put people and families at the heart of all we do.

The full report can be viewed at www.gmpcc.org.uk/annualreport.