Simon Danczuk calls on Government to protect funding for town centre policing

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has called on the Government to protect funding for town centre policing after high street traders raised concerns about shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The intervention comes after an online survey of 580 shoppers showed 29% of those asked gave Rochdale Town Centre the lowest rating for safety.

Business owners have criticised a lack of police presence in the centre and complained that operators can take up to an hour to answer calls to the 101 non-emergency number.

Government funding cuts have already forced Greater Manchester Police to axe 1,500 officers in five years.

But planned changes to the formula which allocates police funding could see GMP forced to cut numbers even further.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Danczuk called for a debate on the issue.

He said: “I recently met Mark Foxley and Lorenzo O’Reilly from Rochdale town centre, who raised concerns about the lack of police in the town centre and the increase in shoplifting.

“That is obviously due to the loss of 1,500 police officers. I am concerned that the replacement of the police allocation formula will make matters even worse.”

In response, Leader of the House Chris Grayling said: “Yes, we have had to take tough decisions about the budgets that are available to our police forces, but they have risen to the challenge effectively.”

Speaking afterwards, Mr Danczuk said: “It is frustrating that at a time when so many great things are happening in Rochdale that shoppers and visitors might be put off by safety fears.

“The Government needs to listen to the concerns of high street business owners and realise the catastrophic consequences that further police cuts would have.”