Angela Smith MP has today voted against cuts of £125 million which will impact on policing in South Yorkshire.

Today MPs debated Tory Lib Dem proposals to cut £125 million of the Government's core police funding. These cuts were proposed despite both the Tories and the Lib Dems supporting the current police grant, which was passed without a vote back in February.

In South Yorkshire it means South Yorkshire Police will see their budget cut from £110.2 million to £107.4 million, a £2.8 million cut, equivalent to a 4.5% cut in police officer numbers.

Commenting Angela, said:

"At the last election we were committed to giving the police the resources to maintain front line police numbers. This Government has made no such commitment and in opposition the Lib Dems called for 3,000 more police officers.

Unfortunately, one of the first acts of the new coalition is to slash the police budget for this year. This was a budget which they supported on the run up to the General Election.

"This is clearly unfair as local police forces like South Yorkshire Police, have already set their precepts and will now have to make savings which will have an impact on police numbers and the services they can provide the people of Barnsley and Sheffield.

"I opposed this new funding package today as it does not protect the interests of the people of in north Sheffield and Barnsley."

Shadow Policing Minister David Hanson MP said:

"The decision to cut the Home Office Police Grant, the Capital Grant and the Counter Terrorism Budget is part of a sustained attack by the new Government on neighbourhood policing.

"The funding allocation was supported by both the Tories and the Lib Dems whilst in opposition but opposed now they are in Government.

"We already know the Tory Lib Dem Government intend to take 25 per cent out of the Home Office budget and this will undoubtedly have an impact on frontline policing.

"Under the previous government crime fell by 36 per cent and there were record numbers of police on the beat. This cut will mean less police on the beat, working to make our communities safer."