David Ruffley MP, Shadow Minister for Police Reform today said:

'During Home Office Oral Questions on the 25th February 2008, I asked Jacqui Smith if she would unambiguously pledge to the public and the police that police numbers would not be cut. She refused to make that commitment.

Her response offered little reassurance to a police service that is expected to deal with rising levels of anti-social behaviour and violent crime, and to the public who value a strong police presence on their streets.'

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25 Feb 2008 : Column 748

Mr. David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds) (Con): The Flanagan report, which the Home Secretary welcomes, states that

'maintaining police numbers at their current level is not sustainable over the course of the next three years.'

Will she unambiguously pledge to the public and the police that those numbers will not be cut?

Jacqui Smith: I believe that between 1993 and 1997 police officer numbers fell by 1,100. We are increasing the resources available to support revenue funding for policing by 2.9 per cent. both next year and the following year. We are providing the resources necessary for chief constables to make the required decisions about their force's staffing levels of police officers and others. It is difficult for Conservative Members to make a credible case for increased resources when they have not supported the increases in resources and they had such a pitiable record in government.

Jacqui Smith has also endorsed the Flanagan Review which says:

'maintaining police numbers at their current level is not sustainable over the course of the next three years. [..]we would not be making the most effective use of the resources dedicated to the police if police officer numbers were sustained at their current level.' (p. 45)