THE voices of 12,000 people were heard in Downing Street as the Evening Mail handed over a petition to Number 10 opposing plans to slash £26m from the county's police budget.

Editor James Higgins and chief reporter Suzanne Murphy joined Police Federation Chairman Martin Plummer, Cumbrian MPs and representatives from our sister paper the News and Star in London yesterday. (28)

Just after 4.30pm Mr Higgins knocked on the door of Number 10 and handed over a box containing signed coupons and a petition from readers who are against the proposed cuts.

Chief Constable Jerry Graham has warned that the force will be unrecognisable and the public’s safety put at risk if they go ahead.

MPs who joined the Number 10 delegation to show their support included Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, Copeland MP Jamie Reed, Carlisle MP John Stevenson and Sue Hayman, MP for Workington.

Mr Plummer said he was 100 per cent behind the Evening Mail campaign and appreciated the public taking time the time to show their support.

He added: “What we want is to keep policing as it is in the county and we are doing all we can to ensure that happens.

“Cuts of this extremity will leave the county unsafe for our officers and the community. We won’t be able to protect the communities in Cumbria from the criminals who come into the county.

“I think now the public realise how serious this is. The harsh reality is that our services are going to be drastically affected.”

Our Fight the Cuts campaign was launched two weeks ago when details of the proposed reduction to the constabulary's budget sent shockwaves thorough the force.

Since then a number of high profile figures in the force absinthe community have warned of the potential effects of such deep cuts.

Do you think the government will act on our calls for a reassessment of Cumbria Police's funding formula?
Yes
No


A box containing the petition on its way to London. 

John Woodcock said: “I really applaud the Evening Mail and the federation for organising this campaign and taking it right to where it matters. Right to Downing Street. We need to make sure we keep the momentum going. These men and women in uniform need to be able to do their job and keep the public safe

“The scale of these proposed cuts in Cumbria is just too much and it’s important that the Government realise that the community of Cumbria speaks with one voice.”

Copleland MP Mr Reed said he was 100 per cent behind the campaign and the Government needed to rethink its plans.

He said: “The fact that 12,000 people have taken the time to sign this petition shows the strength of feeling in the county.

“It’s not just about tackling criminals but also about keeping the public safe. The police are an important part of our community.

“We have already been cut to the bone and this will just cut even deeper into a service people need.”

Mr Higgins added: “As a local news organisation it is our job to fight for what is right - and to make a stand when our community needs us.

"The funding formula which could see our county's police force reduced in numbers by up to half in the next decade is fundamentally flawed.

"There is a real risk to the police service as we know it in Cumbria.

"The Evening Mail, it's sister titles and thousands of residents of Cumbria have taken a stand. Our views are clear. The proposed cuts are not acceptable - and no amount of Whitehall spin will convince us otherwise.

"We now await with interest the views of government - 12,000 voices cannot be ignored.”


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