Appeal to Home Secretary over police funding

Councillors voted by 46 votes to 29 to appeal to the Government about the way police funding could be distributed and to look again at the future settlement for Lancashire.

It is also asking county MPs to work to “prevent the proposed cuts being implemented with the consequent drastic reduction of policing in our area.”

County Hall was the scene of heated debate as councillors considered County Coun David Whipp’s warnings about the effect of future cuts, particularly in rural areas.

He submitted a motion which said cutbacks would put residents “at greater risk of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Coun Whipp’s call came after Lancashire’s Steve Finnigan Chief Constable told The Gazette predicted multi million pound cuts would mean the service would not be viable after 2020.

But Tory leader Coun Geoff Driver said: “Any pressure that should be put on the Government on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary should be based on fact not scare-mongering.”

Accusing the Chief Constable of “getting involved in the political debate” he said: “We don’t know what the grant is going to be – it’s all up in the air.”

Liberal Democrat leader Coun. Bill Winlow said: “This is not a question of scaremongering it’s a question of defending our Lancashire police force for the good of people here.”

Council leader Coun Jennifer Mein called for an all- party consensus, saying if the county’s MPs could act together, so could councillors.

The key issue was the way funding was to be allocated.

She added: “It’s the formula which is costing Lancashire far more than anywhere else. Some authorities are gaining money .”