Rotherham mayor slams police cuts

The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Shaun Wright, marked his appointment as vice-chairman of South Yorkshire Police Authority by attacking Government cost-cutting which will see the county’s police funding slashed by a fifth.

“In South Yorkshire we have an enviable record of policing, but the Home Office recently warned of a likely ten per cent increase in crime as the recession bites,” he said.

“So it is absolute madness to cut our policing budgets by 20 per cent when South Yorkshire residents rightly demand and deserve safer neighbourhoods in which to live.

“With Government cuts to police budgets and proposed changes to governance structures it is a challenging time to take up this role.

“However, along with every other members of the police authority, I am determined to ensure that we maintain our excellent performance and the force's ability to combat crime.”

South Yorkshire Police has to save £15 million this year, with an overall saving of £40 million by 2015.

Cllr Wright, who takes over the vice-chairman post from fellow Rotherham councillor Reg Littleboy, added: “I look forward to working with chairman Charles Perryman and the other members of the police authority to ensure that policing remains a locally accountable service which meets the needs of the community and makes people right across South Yorkshire feel safer.”

Sheffield-based Mr Perryman, who has been a member of the authority for the last 12 years and was appointed chair in 2007, was reappointed as chairman.

He said: “It’s a critical time for local policing, and the authority has a lot to do over the next few months in preparing the ground for the new structural arrangements the Government is planning to introduce in May 2012.”