Lib Dems pay for extra police officers

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 3rd Mar 2008

Rochdale Liberal Democrats are paying for an extra police officer for every township in the borough. The scheme was included in the Lib Dems extra spending proposals and was passed at the recent budget council meeting. This means that under the Lib Dem proposals Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Rochdale Police Stations will see an extra officer on the beat.

Leader of the Council Alan Taylor said: "We all know that in Greater Manchester, police resources are stretched and this extra investment will enable Greater Manchester Police to employ an extra officer for all our townships. This is something that we otherwise would not have had. These extra officers are a sign that the Lib Dems are tackling crime head on.

"I have always said that no matter how many new laws or initiatives that are introduced by this Labour Government, good policing requires proper resources and this is what were are trying to give our police force here in our borough. We want to see more money spent on Police Officers and Community Support Officers who do a great job in our community, whilst our government wants to waste billions on schemes such as ID cards."

Cabinet Member for Community Safety Ted Flynn said: "I think the people of our borough will be delighted to hear that we are getting extra police officers on our streets. I know that recently our borough has seen a spate of violent crime and anti-social behaviour and this investment will really help in our fight against the criminals. I would also like to welcome the £200,000 that my Lib Dem colleagues are putting into the Young Offenders Payback Scheme. I know how much great work is done and the results that they achieve there are amazing. The Lib Dems will continue to fight hard against crime."