Cut in numbers of police officers sign of things to come - Clegg

1.48.56pm GMT Tue 30th Jan 2007

Commenting on the news that the number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen for the first time since March 2000, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Clegg MP said:

"These police cuts are a sign of things to come.

"Home Office cutbacks have already led to reductions in the promised number of Community Support Officers and a withdrawal of new services like a non-emergency phone number.

"Now the funding squeeze is hitting front-line police themselves.

"The Government should get its priorities right and spend more money on the police officers we all want, instead of wasting billions on an unnecessary and illiberal ID cards scheme."

Applicability: this item refers to England and Wales. Due to devolution, detailed policy may be different in other areas of the UK.