Lib Dem call for clarity on Greater Manchester Police numbers

12.25.00pm GMT Tue 2nd Feb 2010

Two leading Liberal Democrats in Oldham have written to the Chief Constable to request a breakdown of Greater Manchester's police numbers over the next year following leaked reports that as many as 300 posts may be axed.

Elwyn Watkins, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth, said:

"We have written to the Chief Constable to seek an assurance that budget cuts will not impact upon front-line services. Many local people have told me that they want to see more police on the streets, not less."

Mark Alcock, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham West & Royton, said:

"The police work very hard and I'm sure that the last thing they want is to cut front-line staff, but if their funding is reduced then it will impact somewhere - and we would like to know how it will affect local services."

The Liberal Democrats are committed to putting an extra 10,000 police on the streets across the UK.