POLICE FUNDING IN GREATER MANCHESTER

That this House is concerned that the Greater Manchester Police Authority Independent Chairman has confirmed that Greater Manchester faces a projected budget shortfall of £1.3 million for 2007-08, of £25.9 million for 2008-09 and of £12.2 million for 2009-10; notes that Greater Manchester Police has already made reductions of more than 200 police officers in 2006-07 and that further cuts may be necessary in the future unless more resources are made available from Government; further notes with concern that it is estimated that £35 million of funding has been withheld by the Government as part of its `damping mechanism', despite payment being fully justified on the Home Office's objective needs basis; and therefore calls on the Government to put an end to this inequity and provide the necessary funds to police the streets of Greater Manchester properly.