Jan Berry comments on the fall in police numbers.

In my earlier post about yesterday's PMQs, I asked readers to listen to Gordon Brown and then to asks themselves if they believed the answers he gave. For instance he said that we have more police officers than ever before. With that in mind please read the following:

Reacting to publication of the police service strength report published today, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

“We are bitterly disappointed that, despite assurances of record numbers, we saw a fall of 647 police officers in England and Wales during the six months to September 2007.This at a time when ring fenced funding for CSO’s was extended for another year, and we saw an 80% increase in CSOs between October 2006 and September 2007. We had predicted this, but take no pleasure being proved right.

“However the real kick in the stomach comes from our chief officers, who instead of demanding no decline in police officer numbers, trumpet an increase in police personnel. They may be prepared to sell police officers down the river, but we will fight to ensure that the politically independent multi-skilled police constable remains at the heart of policing.”

Do you believe Gordon Brown?