Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Graeme Morrice

Monday 7th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

20. What estimate she has made of the number of police officers who will be in post in 2015.

[The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Herbert)]

As I have just explained to the House, we have set a challenging but manageable funding settlement for the police service. It is for the chief constable and the police authority in each force to determine the number of police officers that are deployed given the available resources.

[Graeme Morrice]

The public disorder of August showed us that police numbers count, along with forces throughout the United Kingdom working closely together on major issues. Does not the Minister see therefore how foolish it is to cut more than 16,000 police officers by 2015—the same number that brought order to London during the summer riots?

[Nick Herbert]

As I have said, police forces must make savings because we have to deal with the deficit, but they can do so in a way that protects front-line policing. There is no reason why there should be damage to the front line if they drive savings elsewhere. I have pointed out to the House before, and will do so again, that a third of human resources in police forces are not on the front line. Some 25,000 police officers are in back-room jobs. That is where police forces should begin.