“Conservative Police Commissioner has chosen cronyism and gimmicks over police officers” Cllr Glynane

The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, and member of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has today attacked the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire as he published his budget.

The Conservative PCC claimed to maintain police officers, however the previous year's budget contained enough money for 1265 full-time officers and the new budget will only fund 1220. Meanwhile it is expected that the widely criticised office for the Police Commissioner, which has been staffed since his election with several political aides on salaries up to a £65k a year, will cost £796k. The much heralded Police reserve force will consist of people paid to work 20 days a year.

Cllr Glynane said "I am really disappointed that the Conservative PCC has not listened to the wave of criticism from the public, media and Liberal Democrats and is still hell bent on spending £796k on his back office which he stuffed with political cronies as soon as he was elected. The public of Northamptonshire made their views very clear. The arrogance he has shown in ignoring local people does not bode well."

"Meanwhile he has chosen to fund a reserve force of people who will work 20 days a year, rather than 45 full time officers, pounding the beat all year round. I understand he wants to make a splash but choosing cronyism and gimmicks over full-time officers is not the way to do it. People want real police officers on the streets. I call on the Conservative Police and Crime commissioner to rethink this cut to funds for 45 frontline police officers."