Dorset PCC: “Paris is a game changer, policing needs investment and protection, not cuts.”

Martyn Underhill, the Police and Crime Commissioner, has written to Chancellor George Osborne saying last weekend’s attacks in Paris have shown how grave the situation is.

And he warned that fewer police officers will hamper the ability to gather community intelligence – a key element in the counter terrorism effort.

All the UK’s PCCs will meet Home Secretary Theresa May in Manchester on Wednesday to discuss what many believe to be a policing crisis.

Mr Underhill told the Daily Echo: “Paris is a game changer, policing needs investment and protection, not cuts.”

In his letter to Mr Osborne, the Dorset PCC says the Chancellor still has time “to do the right thing” on police funding in the light of Paris and the increasing threat from Islamic State.

The Chancellor is to announce his Comprehensive Spending Review on Wednesday and outline police spending allocations over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Mr Underhill said: “My views on a 20-40 per cent cut to policing funding are well known and I have lobbied ministers not to cut too deep.

“However my concerns have increased considerably after the events in Paris.”

Last week Mr Underhill wrote to Dorset MPs highlighting security concerns over ports which he says could be at risk if cuts go ahead.

At the same time Christchurch MP Chris Chope criticised the government for axing a £4m aerial maritime surveillance contract around the UK carried out from Bournemouth Airport by Cobham.

Mr Underhill said: “Paris highlights more than just this. It highlights that deep cuts will also have an impact on neighbourhood policing. Whilst armed police protect us in the event of an attack, neighbourhood policing provides intelligence that prevents one happening. The British policing model must be preserved”

He urged the chancellor not to raise the £2bn being reinvested in counter terrorism, from the policing budget.

He said Dorset was one of the safest places to live and the likelihood of an attack was remote.

“However, if one of our cities faces a Paris-style attack, it would stretch UK policing resources which are much fewer than France’s,” he added.