Difficult to believe Boris Johnson’s campaign promise to restore the cuts to police numbers – Diane Abbott

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to Boris Johnson’s claim he will recruit 20,000 police if elected Tory leader, said:

“Despite the repeated warnings from the police and the public, the government cuts to police numbers have undermined their ability to tackle rising violent crime. You simply can’t keep people safe on the cheap.

“It’s difficult now to believe Boris Johnson’s campaign promise to restore the cuts to police numbers when he has repeatedly voted for them as an MP. 

“The Tories can’t be trusted on police numbers, whoever their leader is. Labour will recruit thousands of new police officers to fight the rising tide of serious crime.” 

Ends

Notes to editors:

·         Boris Johnson voted in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to cut real terms funding to local forces.

·         As Mayor of London, he accepted £1 billion worth of cuts.