Lib Dems announce an extra £2.3M per year for Cumbria Police

Tim Farron has announced that the Lib Dems would give Cumbria Police an extra £2.3million per year. This is in stark contrast to the Conservatives who have overseen devastating cuts to community policing - last year Cumbria Police was forced to cut 69 police officers and staff.

The investment is part of a £300million program which the Liberal Democrats have committed to nationally. This compares to Theresa May, who as Home Secretary and now Prime Minister has cut policing budgets by over £2bn, eroding the very fabric of community policing. In 2015, the Conservatives tried to slash a further £15million from Cumbria Police, but were forced to back down.

Under the Liberal Democrats Cumbria would see a funding increase of £2,320,000 a year. This could be used to restore a visible policing presence in the community and ensure the police have the training and tools to deal with the changing nature of crime.

Tim said: "Cumbria is a vast, rural county and the bottom line is that Conservative cuts have left many communities without a visible police presence. This investment in our police is absolutely vital.

"Under Theresa May - first as Home Secretary and now as Prime Minister, our police have had to deal with the most brutal of cuts. These are now cutting into the bone.

"Our police work tirelessly to keep us safe and this Government has completely betrayed them.

"Only the Liberal Democrats have a credible plan to protect our communities and ensure the police have the resources they need to keep us safe."