Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Jack Dromey Excerpts
Monday 9th July 2012

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Featherstone Portrait Lynne Featherstone
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I will look into the issues that the hon. Lady raises, and I will reply to her by letter.

Jack Dromey Portrait Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)
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Faced with the impossible pressures generated by a 20% cut to its budget, leading to 1,200 police officers going, the admirable west midlands police service has told the community of Quinton in Birmingham that the local police station can stay open, but only if they agree to man it. Is this the Home Secretary’s vision for the future: a new approach towards community policing that says to local communities, “Man your own police station”—and ultimately, I presume—“Arrest your own criminals”?

Baroness Featherstone Portrait Lynne Featherstone
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I understand that there is a low footfall at that police station. However, community volunteers are a very good thing for police stations, and I can inform the hon. Gentleman that crime in his area is down by 7%.