£11 Million cut would "cripple" Cumbria's police force

The Chief Constable of Cumbria has warned of "catastrophic" damage to policing in the county if the recommendations of a report from the former Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, were implemented in full.

The Flanagan Review of local police funding suggests that Cumbria is top of a list of "winners" under the current arrangement and proposes an alternative funding formula under which Cumbria constabulary would eventually receive £11 million a year less than now.

It appears this is partly because of the success of Cumbria police in reducing crime. The Flanagan formula looks at crime levels now which seems reasonable at first - until you realise the Cumbria Constabulary is effectively being punished for being the most efficient police force in the country. However sensible the Flanagan formula might look at first sight to people in London or Northern Ireland, this sends out all kinds of wrong signals.

One has to ask whether Sir Ronnie and his committee have ever been to Cumbria. The geography of the area means that providing quality public services is challenging and cannot be done on the cheap whether it is healthcare or policing. But we have paid our taxes and are entitled to expect a decent NHS and police service.

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