Chancellor must use budget to boost community policing

Responding to a report from the Home Affairs Select Committee called 'Policing for the future', Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Crime and Policing spokesperson Councillor Sarah Gallagher said "Unnecessary Conservative police cuts have already made our streets less safe. The Home Office's own analysis shows that police cuts have likely contributed to the rise in serious violent crime, yet the Conservatives continue to squeeze forces' budgets."

Sarah added "The Liberal Democrats demand better. We're calling on the Chancellor to use his Budget to give police forces an extra £300 million a year to recruit more officers and boost community policing. If the Chancellor refuses to give police the funding they need, he should make sure that some of his extra money for the NHS is used to improve health services for people in mental health crisis, to stop the burden falling on police officers."