Agenda item

“This council calls for fair funding for Lancashire Constabulary and the return of the numbers of police officers that Lancashire has lost since 2010.

This council notes that Lancashire Constabulary has seen amongst the highest level of cuts of any police force in the country with a reduction of 753 police officers.  That cuts have consequences and this has meant that Lancashire has seen an increase in violent crime, knife crime, county lines (drug dealing) and even homicides.

By contrast, many forces in the south of England have seen no impact from austerity. Surrey, for example, has had a reduction of just 8 police officers (government figures) since 2010 and yet will receive 78 back this year. At the same time Lancashire will be allocated additional funding for just 153 police officers. This year Surrey will have 70 more police officers than in 2010 whilst in Lancashire we will still have 600 fewer. This is unfair, unjust and simply unacceptable. Lancashire is not a second class county and we should not be treated as one. 

This council wholeheartedly supports the campaign of our Police & Crime Commissioner to get fair funding for Lancashire Police and our Bobbies back on the streets of Lancashire, not more in leafy Surrey!!”

The following Altered Motion was moved and seconded, with the agreement of the meeting:

“This council calls for fair funding for Lancashire Constabulary and the return of the numbers of police officers that Lancashire has lost since 2010.

 This council notes that Lancashire Constabulary has seen amongst the highest level of cuts of any police force in the country with a reduction of 753 police officers.  That cuts have consequences and this has meant that Lancashire has seen an increase in violent crime, knife crime, county lines (drug dealing) and even homicides.  By contrast, many forces in the south of England have seen no impact from austerity. Surrey, for example, has had a reduction of just 8 police officers (government figures) since 2010 and yet will receive 78 back this year. At the same time Lancashire will be allocated additional funding for just 153 police officers. This year Surrey will have 70 more police officers than in 2010 whilst in Lancashire we will still have 600 fewer. This is unfair, unjust and simply unacceptable. Lancashire is not a second class county and we should not be treated as one.

This council wholeheartedly supports the campaign of our Police & Crime Commissioner to get fair funding for Lancashire Police and our Bobbies back on the streets of Lancashire, not more in leafy Surrey!!

This Council resolves that the Leader and relevant portfolio holder write formally to the Home Secretary to confirm our support for the Police and Crime Commissioner's calls for increased funding for the provision of police officers here in West Lancashire and across Lancashire Constabulary, and write to the PCC to confirm our support to him also."

An Amendment to the Motion was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken on the Amendment, which was LOST

During consideration of the Altered Motion, agreement to the removal of the word "leafy" was accepted by the mover, the seconder and with the agreement of the meeting.

A vote was taken on the Altered Motion, as amended, which was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:     A.    That this council calls for fair funding for Lancashire Constabulary and the return of the numbers of police officers that Lancashire has lost since 2010.

B.    That this council notes that Lancashire Constabulary has seen amongst the highest level of cuts of any police force in the country with a reduction of 753 police officers.  That cuts have consequences and this has meant that Lancashire has seen an increase in violent crime, knife crime, county lines (drug dealing) and even homicides.  By contrast, many forces in the south of England have seen no impact from austerity. Surrey, for example, has had a reduction of just 8 police officers (government figures) since 2010 and yet will receive 78 back this year. At the same time Lancashire will be allocated additional funding for just 153 police officers. This year Surrey will have 70 more police officers than in 2010 whilst in Lancashire we will still have 600 fewer. This is unfair, unjust and simply unacceptable. Lancashire is not a second class county and we should not be treated as one.

C.   That this council wholeheartedly supports the campaign of our Police & Crime Commissioner to get fair funding for Lancashire Police and our Bobbies back on the streets of Lancashire, not more in Surrey!!

D.   That the Leader and relevant portfolio holder write formally to the Home Secretary to confirm our support for the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) calls for increased funding for the provision of police officers here in West Lancashire and across Lancashire Constabulary, and write to the PCC to confirm our support to him also.