Since 2010 the government has slashed more than £150m from GMP’s budget. The service has seen police officer numbers plummet by more than 1,100. This year GMP has to find £41m of savings.
Lloyd said: “We are seeing the impact of the cuts to policing and other public services across Greater Manchester. Crime is going up, police officer numbers are being cut and neighbourhood policing is under threat – but still the government carries on regardless.
“George Osborne found no time in his budget speech to address community safety and the message we have to take is that these relentless cuts will go on and on and on. This is unsustainable.”
Tony Lloyd welcomed the news that Greater Manchester will keep more money kept from business rates, and supports the creation of the “Northern powerhouse”. He added: “I am pleased that Greater Manchester is going to get more control over its fiscal destiny, and have got to welcome the moves to devolve more power to our region. But let’s not forget that this government has already slashed £1.4bn from our public services here in Greater Manchester, with the loss of more than 25,000 jobs.
“The cuts that have been imposed in Greater Manchester have been much, much worse than those in, for example, the Tory shires. These cuts have not just been too fast and too deep – they have been incredibly unfair to the poorest parts of the country, where public services are most needed.
“In the budget the Chancellor had the opportunity to reassure the public that he cares about community safety. He has failed miserably.”
