Following the news that Cumbria Police may have to save £26 million over the next four years, Lakeland Radio, part of Cumbria's CN Group, is asking you to 'Support Your Force.'
Click here to sign the petition.
"Let's not be dishonest with the public. What will be left will be a pale shadow of the policing service in Cumbria." - Cumbria Chief Constable, Jerry Graham.
"Proposed cuts of this scale will have a significant impact on the level of policing within the county." - Cumbria Police & Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes.
Although an official announcement won't be made until next month's spending review is published, Cumbria police has predicted that it will be asked to save £26m, and our neighbours down the road in Lancashire could be facing cuts of £24.8m.
In previous years, our Chief Constable and Police & Crime Commissioner have remained tight-lipped about their thoughts on the scale of cuts being asked of them.
However, in an unprecedented move, they have spoken out publicly of their anger and concern. In addition, various social media sites operated by the Police are directly appealing for public support.
Commenting further, Cumbria's Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: "We have been saving our budget for five years. We had to take some hugely painful decisions and have done that without complaint because we have understood that savings need to be made to protect the public purse.
"As we've been doing that, I have been able to look at myself, the PCC and the public and convince them that policing in the county is safe.
"As we look ahead at the size of the cuts being proposed here, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to go to the PCC and the public and reassure them that the policing model we will provide to the county will be an effective one."
Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes, has questioned whether ministers understand the full consequences of the cuts.
He said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner I am keen to establish with Ministers that they understand the full consequences of such proposals on the ability to maintain an efficient and effective police service in Cumbria.
"I will now be working with the Chief Constable on ascertaining the future financial viability of the police service."
South Lakes MP a
nd Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron said: "This could mean the loss of over a hundred local police officers – meaning that one in ten bobbies will be removed.
"Rural communities like ours will be much less safe as a result of these avoidable cuts. The Conservative Government has chosen to give away public money by giving tax cuts to wealthy people, when this money ought to be spent on protecting local policing.
"This is a devastating attack on our communities and I am demanding that the Conservatives listen to our Chief Constable and to our local communities and undo these cuts."
Copeland’s Labour MP, Jamie Reed, said: “Cuts of this magnitude could seriously undermine the viability of effective policing in Cumbria.
"Police officers throughout the county provide a service upon which we all rely and the Government must do more to support them.
“People depend on the police in their most desperate times and it is essential that they are given the support they need to keep our communities safe.
“I will be raising this matter directly with the Home Secretary.”
He added: “People are understandably concerned and this petition will be a powerful indicator of the strength of feeling in our community. The Government will have to take notice."
Barrow and Furness’s Labour MP, John Woodcock, said: “Our local police do a brilliant job of policing a region which is remote and already stretches the force.
"The government should be supporting the people who serve our community rather than constantly undermining them.
“They need to think again about these cuts and make sure people in Cumbria are not put at risk.”
The government is consulting on the changes - with a Home Office consultation closing at the end of this month.
You can add your name to the campaign by clicking here.
Below: Public sector spending table, from 2015-16 Spending Review document, which concludes by saying: "The government will use the Spending Review to set out plans for eliminating the deficit and safeguarding Britain’s long-term economic security. But it will also take the opportunity to invest in its priorities, and deliver ambitious reforms to modernise and localise public services to achieve better outcomes for citizens."
