10:35am Thursday 27th September 2007
SENIOR councillors from the York and Selby area have spoken of their concerns about the force's potential loss of £10 million.
City of York council leader Steve Galloway said he had put a motion down for a full council meeting next week, supporting the Chief Constable's efforts to get full funding from central Government.
"It should be regarded as essential that police and PCSO strength in York is maintained at least to the present level," he said.
"We've turned the corner in York on crime and we had the lowest levels ever recorded for one day in York over summer.
"It would be desperately sad if the availability of finances from the Government was the reason why they couldn't maintain the progress we've made."
Another York councillor, Keith Orrell, who is a member of the police authority, said losing the money would mean a considerable reduction in police officers.
"The police authority this year is expected to make savings of £5 million for the next financial year," he said.
"If we then had to find a further £10 million saving, it would mean considerable reductions in police officers."
Coun Orrell said that York had repeatedly done badly under formulas worked out by Government.
"It is a very complex subject, but in all these formulas, York always loses out on money from the Government," he said.
"The formulas devised, generally speaking, go on deprivation and social problems and York loses out on a permanent basis."
Selby District Council leader Mark Crane said: "I think it should be a concern for all of us. Funding for the police is vital. I think they do a very difficult job and to loose £10 million at the end of the day results in less police on the street.
"I would urge people to write to their MPs and councillors and try to make sure we do everything so the police can keep their funding."
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