What’s on your Christmas wish list?

Cllr Paul Murphy, GMPA Chairman, and Chief Constable Peter Fahy

There’s still time for the public to share their policing wish list as decision-makers prepare to set the budget for next year.

Hundreds of people have already logged on to the Budget Simulator website – www.budgetsimulator.com/GMPA - to tell Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) how they think the police budget should be spent.

The online tool challenges people to create a budget for 2012/2013 by deciding how much money should be allocated to different policing departments while ensuring the total budget remains balanced.

The feedback people give will be considered by GMPA Members when they decide next year’s police budget in February 2012.

Cllr Paul Murphy, GMPA Chairman, said: “With Christmas just around the corner, everyone will be thinking about budgets and how to make the most efficient and effective use of their money. This is the same for the Police Authority and this year the budget is tighter than ever as we look to save £134M by 2015.

“There are some tough choices to be made and those who take part in the Budget Simulator will see that managing the finances isn’t an easy job.

“We know local people have a genuine interest in policing and as an organisation which makes important decisions about policing on people’s behalf, it is vital people can tell us what they think. This will ensure that we know what the people we represent think when we make the big budget decisions in February 2012. “

The Budget Simulator is easy to use. It clearly shows how much money is available in the budget and how it was allocated last year.

Website visitors click their desired options – more or less cash in a particular area – to decide next year’s allocations. Once they have made their choices, the consequences of their decisions are shown.

After reading the consequences, users can return to their budget and change their choices as many times as they like before submitting their final budget.

The Budget Simulator website closes on Sunday 18 December 2011. All responses will then be analysed and shared with GMPA Members before deciding the annual budget.

Every person who takes part will be entered into a draw for a prize and a feedback newsletter will be issued once the budget has been set in February 2012.