Ministers slammed over ‘crazy’ police cuts

Rotherham councillor Shaun Wright branded plans to make 20 per cent savings “absolute madness” but said he would work to ensure that people in the county still felt safe in their communities.

The authority’s chairman Charles Perryman, who was reappointed for his fifth term at the authority’s annual meeting last week, and Coun Wright will be charged with overseeing the cuts.

Coun Wright said: “I look forward to working with members to ensure that policing meets the needs of the community and makes people right across South Yorkshire feel safer.

“With Government cuts to police budgets and proposed changes to governance structures it’s a challenging time to take up this role. However, along with every other member of the police authority, I am determined to ensure that we maintain our excellent performance and the force’s ability to combat crime.

“In South Yorkshire we have an enviable record of policing, but the Home Office recently warned of a likely 10 per cent increase in crime as the recession bites, 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.”

Mr Perryman, who lives in Sheffield, has been a member of the authority for the last 12 years and was appointed chairman in 2007.

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.

“This might be the final year for police authorities, but I am confident we will work together to ensure a smooth handover to the new governing body for policing in South Yorkshire.”