Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney MP Gerald Jones raised concerns in Parliament recently, over cuts to the Police grant for England & Wales. The grant will be cut by £97 million in 2017/18, this in addition to significant cuts already over the past few years.

Gerald Jones MP said:

“Due to austerity measures imposed by the UK Tory Government, Police numbers have been cut by approximately 20,000 since the Tories came to power in 2010. This latest significant cut in the Police grant will mean that Police budgets will be further stretched this year and undoubtedly put front-line policing under greater pressure.”

Figures highlight that the real terms effect on budgets mean that funding to South Wales Police will be cut by 5.3% and to Gwent Police by 4.9%.