Home Office Minister David Hanson came to South Wales yesterday and claimed that South Wales Police was properly funded. This is contrary to the view of the Police Authority and the Chief Constable, who have instigated drastic measures to balance their budget.
Chief Constable, Barbara Wilding wanted a 9.89% rise in direct cash from taxpayers. Earlier this year she blasted the Home Office, claiming her force faced a funding crisis. She then scrapped routine M4 police patrols, blaming a lack of money.
Last week, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott pointed out that South Wales Police officer numbers fell by 105 between September 2008 to March 2009, the biggest fall in numbers of any force in the country along with Hampshire Police Force.
She said: “The unfair police funding arrangements in Wales and the lack of a grant to cover capital city policing have left South Wales Police with one of the worst funding shortfalls of any force in the country.
“We are already expecting to see four police stations close in central Cardiff. But unless the Government plugs this chronic funding gap, it is hard to see how the force can avoid cutting police officer numbers even further.
“Alan Johnson needs to explain why he won’t scrap the ridiculously expensive ID card scheme and put the money into getting more police officers on the streets of South Wales.”
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