Public supports budget cap force
06th June 2009
Police in Surrey are urging residents to sign a petition to help fight the government decision to cap its budget.
The petition, on the Surrey Police Authority's website, has received more than 4,600 signatures since it was started last Thursday.
The budget cap for the force was confirmed last month.
It was allowed to keep the £191.5m budget it set for 2008/09, but was told it must not exceed £189.6m, plus 5%, for 2009/10.
The budget cuts will mean 50 frontline jobs will be axed.
'Irrational decision'
Chief Constable Mark Rowley said the jobs would include 35 police officers such as major crime investigators and those working with Special Branch.
The force has already announced 144 staff jobs will go under the "extremely tough" budget for 2009/10.
A government spokesman said capping should not affect frontline policing.
But police authority chairman Peter Williams branded the decision "irrational, unreasonable and indefensible".
He said the government's plan to limit the budget and cut frontline policing in Surrey was "simply not welcome".
Source: BBC