Police: Officer Numbers

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Tuesday 1st February 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the fall in the numbers of police officers and police community support officers.

[The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones)]

My Lords, it is for the chief constables and their police authorities to make decisions on the numbers of police officers and police community support officers within their available resources. We remain confident that police forces can make the necessary savings through reductions in middle and back office functions, while retaining and enhancing their ability to protect and serve the public, with a particular focus on maintaining the front line.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark]

I thank the Minister for her reply. With approximately 2,000 fewer police officers and a similar reduction in PCSOs since May this year, and given the estimates from the Police Federation that this figure could rise to 20,000 in the next few years, is it not the case that the ordinary family is less safe under the Conservatives?