Police Cuts Report Proves Residents Right

A damning report by the Home Affairs Select Committee into the shelved changes to police funding has vindicated the concerns shown by Cumbrian residents, according to South Lakes MP Tim Farron.

In early November, the government was forced to back-pedal on proposed changes to the police funding formula, following the revelation that the Home Office's calculations were incorrect. Tim Farron described the situation at the time as a "shambles", as Police Forces across the country were left in the dark about the cuts they faced.

A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee has lambasted the Home Office's errors as "deplorable" and added that "confidence in the process has been lost".

Tim's 'Protect our Police' campaign attracted significant support from local residents, who expressed anger at the cuts Cumbria Police faced. Tim wrote repeatedly to the Prime Minister and to the Policing Minister, to campaign against the cuts and lobby for a greater understanding of the challenges involved in policing a large rural area such as Cumbria.

The Chancellor eventually cancelled the proposed changes in the Autumn Statement, insisting that there would be no cuts to the police budget in real terms. However, new proposals to review the police funding formula are expected to be brought forward by the Home Office.

Tim said: "This judgement by the Home Affairs Select Committee is correct in criticising the Conservatives' shambolic proposals to slash Cumbria Police's funding, and vindicates the campaign fought by local people against this.

"I welcomed the Chancellor's recent U-Turn on police cuts in the Autumn Statement. However, I will pay close attention to the new police funding formula plans which the Home Office is drawing up, and will continue to fight for proper funding for Cumbria Police."