Originally posted @ 1:43 am, Thu 13th Jan 2011
At a scrutiny meeting to consider social work, I heard for the first time that Notts Police are to ask officers over 50 to consider early retirement.
I need to find out more about this cos I head to confirmed later in the evening.
David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions suggested that it was enough to have the same money as 4 years ago –
Q7. [32733] Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): With the Government cutting 20,000 front-line police officers, will the Prime Minister give me a commitment that recorded crime will not rise on his watch?
The Prime Minister: I want to see crime come down, because I want to see us get the police out on the beat. The fact is that only 11% of police officers at any one time are out on the beat. I have the figures for North Wales police, and yes, of course there are some spending reductions being made—[Hon. Members: “Answer the question!”] I am answering it. When it comes to the funding, in 2011-12 it will be the same as the funding that the police had in 2007-08, so it is perfectly possible to have effective crime fighting and to get police out on the streets in north Wales.
The lack of ambition is palpable.
I note commentators saying Prime Minister’s Questions is a bit flat.
I think some toning down of some of the exchanges might reflect what the public want and maybe Ed Miliband, by trying to embrace the real concerns of the public is having more impact than those who look for performance might expect. There is a second poll showing a much larger lead for Labour, although the large polls leads for Labour in the Oldham by-election, with the Tories a clear third, might make Tories think about changing their vote – we shall see.
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The social work scrutiny meeting was both able to recognise the progress being made in Nottingham and the threat of cuts in finance and staffing that may be accompanied by the loss of finance to the poorest families which may lead to more of the neglect that requires social work intervention.
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