Blunkett slates police cuts

Mr Blunkett was speaking at a Police Authority conference in Sheffield which was attended by more than 50 people from the county's Police Force, Police Authority, local authorities and partner agencies.

South Yorkshire Police has already seen £3million cut from its budget this year, with further reductions set to be announced by the Government at the Comprehensive Spending Review in October.  

Mr Blunkett said: "Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has indicated that Police Forces can be maintained with a reduction in budgets of around ten to twelve per cent. The coalition government is looking at double that.

"This is bound to have an effect on the police's ability to respond to the needs of the community as well as adapting to new criminal activity, such as dealing with e-crime. How can they engage in tackling these new areas, investing in people and the right technology, without cutting still further into the existing core of activities?"

South Yorkshire Police Authority has been able to draw on its reserves to cope with the £3million reduction in its budget this year.