Farron - Police in Cumbria facing £880,000 real-terms cut despite Government smoke and mirrors

Police in Cumbria are facing a real-terms cut of £880,000 next year, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has revealed.

Today the government announced that core funding for police budgets will remain exactly the same as last year.

Taking into account inflation, that means Cumbria Police will face a real-terms cut of £880,000.

The additional £270m of funding the government claims to be investing in the police nationally depends entirely on local Police and Crime Commissioners raising the police precept in their areas, which Tim has branded a "stealth council tax rise."

Tim said: "The Government are ignoring calls from senior officers to increase investment in our police.

"The impact of this cut in police budgets will be felt in our communities and in our streets.

"With crime rising, the Government should have increased police budgets in real terms.

"Even their attempt at a stealth council tax rise won't be enough to protect local police forces.

"I'm genuinely shocked that Ministers are ignoring the alarming rise in serious crime with this short-sighted decision."