Alan Johnson gives new pledge over policing

Apr 23 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

HOME office minister Alan Johnson has promised red tape will not get in the way of safeguarding police numbers.

Mr Johnson set out Labour’s commitment to funding for frontline policing in a visit to the Tynemouth constituency.

He joined Labour’s Alan Campbell as the battle for Tyneside votes heats up. The Conservatives have diverted money and support to the seat in an attempt to secure victories outside of their Southern heartland.

Mr Johnson spoke out over concerns that Northumbria Police would be forced to take “difficult decisions” regarding police numbers because it could not reallocate cash used to pay for police community support officers.

Former chief constable Mike Craik warned in January that his successor would find life “very very tough” if the Government insisted on blocking cops from tweaking with PCSO budgets in order to spend more on frontline officers.

And Mr Johnson drew dividing lines between Labour and the Conservatives over funding for the police.

He said: “We will continue to provide from the centre the money to maintain the officers we have in the system now. That’s from the year after next.

“This year there is a 2.7% increase in funding which is very important because the Conservatives would be cutting from this year.

“Now what I have said to chief constables is if you want to change the ratio of police officers to PCSOs fine, I understand that and you shouldn’t rigidly be keeping to a set number. If however they wanted to eradicate PCSOs altogether the answer would be no.

“They have been a big success and forces previously would not have them unless we provided ring fenced money.