10p a week more to protect policing

Tony Lloyd

GREATER Manchester residents are being asked to contribute on average an extra 10p per week from their council tax to protect local policing.

The increase follows cuts of £180million to Greater Manchester’s police service since 2010.

Greater Manchester interim mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “Since 2010 we have lost 2,000 police officers and 1,000 police staff. By the end of March this year, there will be just 6,100 police officers protecting our homes and streets. This is set against a backdrop of rising crime and an increased demand in policing now made worse by cuts to other public agencies.

“Even the Government has now recognised that they have gone too far in terms of police cuts and have, quite rightly, pledged not to cut policing budgets for 2016/2017.

“But their calculations were based on the assumption that the people of Greater Manchester would pay more through their council tax. If we don’t do this, we will have to cut even more from frontline policing. People tell me they want to see a strong and viable police service in Greater Manchester, so I really have no other realistic option than to propose this increase.”

Have your say on the proposal at www.gmpcc.org.uk/counciltax