Police: what does PM want?

For, until the Conservative leader can respond to this opening point, it is very difficult for the police to respond to the forthcoming budget reductions in a practical manner, and one that does not jeopardise public safety.

Judging by Mr Cameron’s post-riot rhetoric, he clearly does not want to see any significant reduction in police numbers. And neither does the public, given how the recent policing surge has already led to the jailing of many perpetrators.

Yet, rather than placing the onus on individual forces to accrue the necessary savings while his Ministers obfuscate about the precise definition of the police “front line”, Mr Cameron needs to accept some fundamental criticisms before his government’s relationship with the upholders of law and order comes under even more strain – and scrutiny.

First, the PM has to acknowledge that reductions in government grants will impact on forces in different ways, and that it is naive to compare an urban force like West Yorkshire with a predominantly rural constabulary such as North Yorkshire. Both have very different sets of challenges and their funding arrangements have evolved over many years. Second, Mr Cameron appears to be suggest that part of the funding shortfall can be offset by increases in the local precept – the amount residents pay directly for policing in their community. Yet this contradicts his desire to limit future rises in council tax.

While the police must not be immune from efficiency savings, it is, nevertheless, difficult for chief constables and police authorities to plan ahead when Cabinet ministers are not prepared to be straight with the public about financial arrangements.

Given that the West Yorkshire force, for example, could lose more than 700 officers, and hundreds of other staff, is that what Mr Cameron really wants when the constabulary is having to make difficult decisions about the sustainability of neighbourhood police teams – another Whitehall priority?

Until Mr Cameron provides a far more substantive response to the wider issue of police funding, rather than hoping that it will disappear now that the riots appear to have been quelled, the public’s unease will continue to grow, and with good reason.