"Libdems would raise Police Numbers" writes Peter Hirst

10.00.44pm GMT Wed 25th Mar 2009

Libdems would increase police numbers in Cheshire

It is not common knowledge that police numbers in Cheshire fell by 50 in the 12 months to September 2008. This is at a time when crime is expected to increase due to rising unemployment. The Liberal Democrats however would increase police numbers by 142 over the course of the next Parliament. We are the only Political Party to currently propose such an increase as part of our priority of high visibility community policing.

We would fund this by getting rid of the proposed National ID Card scheme. This would free up an estimated £5.5billion. More police on our streets will reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, improve detection rates and make people feel safer. ID cards are an unnecessary limit to our freedom and would be ineffective.

We would also increase the amount of time the police spend on patrol by simplifying their bureaucracy. The average police officer presently spends more time in the police station than they do on the street.