Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to comments in the Independent by the new head of the Police Federation that the Police are failing the public because of Government cuts, said:

“We cannot have security on the cheap and these comments by the new head of the Police Federation confirm that Tory cuts are making our communities less safe.

“Over 21,000 police officers have been lost since 2010 and cuts on this scale are obviously going to have a huge impact on policing and public safety.

“The Government must now listen to the Police Federation and forces across this country and give our police the resources they need to keep people safe.

“The next Labour government will restore 10,000 police officers to tackle rising crime.”