The chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation John O’Reilly says that the expected government spending cuts to the police force will lead to an increase in crime.
Mr O’Reilly told BBC: “If they think that it is not going to affect crime in this area, then they’re dreaming.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is predicting a loss of 28,000 jobs across England and Wales to the police foce when the results of a review commissioned by the government is published later today.
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The cuts are believed to include a plan of making 12,000 police officers and 16,000 civilian staff posts redundant.
Mr O’Reilly said: “The public have every right to be worried” and added: “You cannot take police officers off the street and expect criminals not to return to them”.
“People will see less police officers on the street and less availability of police officers.”
But Policing Minister Nick Herbert defended the impending cuts saying: “We have to deal with the deficit, and police forces can and must make savings, focusing on back and middle office functions like IT and procurement so that frontline services can be protected.
“But when three quarters of force budgets goes on pay, reform of pay and conditions is also essential to protect police jobs and keep officers on the streets.”
