Fiona says government's police cuts "risking the safety of our communities"

Fiona has hit back at the government after it was announced that police funding will be cut by 20 per cent over the next four years and is asking local residents to back her campaign against the cuts. Thames Valley Police will lose 114 police officers and 155 police staff in the Thames Valley area, with a total of 800 posts to go over the next 4 years.  

Fiona said: "I am concerned that these cuts to police numbers will put at risk the safety of our communities. I am glad that the pressure I have consistently put on the police to protect neighbourhood policing has born some fruit but I will be watching very closely in conjunction with local residents to make sure we continue to have neighbourhood patrols in Slough. I am already conducting a local survey of residents about their experience of crime and policing so I can use their views to press the government.

I am very anxious that our Chief Constable has already told me that specialist units are at risk which means that local people who have been victims of fraud or domestic violence may not have the expert dedicated police teams that are needed to secure successful convictions. This government is in such a rush to cut spending that it has forgotten its basic duty of keeping people safe."