Arrest cuts now or face policing ‘crisis’

In a move which critics say will create a crisis in policing, cuts from Greater Manchester’s force are to be redirected to fund policing in London.

GMP has suffered an additional £6.4 million cut for 2014 - equivalent to 145 fewer officers. The cut will help to pay for an extra £110,000 for City of London Police. That force asked for money to deal with events of “major national interest” such as major Old Bailey trials.

Another £950,000 will go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and £160,000 towards a scheme to recruit people from outside the police force into top police jobs.

Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy have already called for the Home Secretary to reconsider the cuts.

Mr Lloyd has also asked councils for a £5 to be added to the average Band D council tax bill from April to pay for policing in Greater Manchester - a move that has angered councillors across the county.