Labour swings axe on police budgets

1.31.34pm GMT Fri 18th Dec 2009

Local Liberal Democrats in Walthamstow have slammed Labour's decision to axe millions from the Police's budget.

Labour's cuts will see £545 million taken away from police forces across the country. This radical cut is the equivalent to training 118,500 more police or opening 454 more police stations.

Local campaigner Farid Ahmed, believes it is vital that front line services in our local area are not reduced. Farid said "With crime on the increase in Walthamstow, I am worried that these cuts might jeopardise local safety.

"Many locals have told me that crime is their number one concern. That's why I am calling for more police on our streets, instead of Labour's plans to waste billions on ID cards."

Local Lib Dem councillor Bob Wheatley said "This just makes the local Labour party's More Police Campaign a joke. They demand more police while slashing police budgets."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the £1 billion saving from scrapping ID cards to be used for 10,000 more police.