Police: Cuts
Debate between Baroness Stowell of Beeston and Lord Paddick
Wednesday 28th October 2015
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(9 years ago)
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The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)
My Lords, if we are going round in order, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches, which have not yet asked a question.
Lord Paddick
My Lords, last night on BBC’s “Newsnight” the head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Sara Thornton, predicted that the cuts that the Government are about to make will mean the end of routine police patrols. The Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said that he was anticipating losing 8,000 police officer posts in London—25% of its current establishment. Can the Minister please explain how the police can maintain relationships with communities, from which counterintelligence comes, in the face of such cuts?