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Labour Group leader Cllr Mike Eddy makes plea to Home Secretary Theresa May to maintain police funding

A Labour Group leader has urged the Home Secretary to maintain police funding, in light of this month's terrorist attacks in Paris.

County, Dover district and Deal town councillor Mike Eddy penned a letter to Theresa May which highlighted that the area has a number of potential targets.

His plea backs the Kent police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes’ concerns about possible reductions to funding.

Cllr Mike Eddy
Cllr Mike Eddy

Cllr Eddy said: “I whole-heartedly support Mrs Barnes’ plea to maintain the level of funding for Kent and Medway’s police service.

“However, I would go further.

“As a representative at district and county Council level of Deal, which experienced the loss of 11 Royal Marine bandsmen at the hands of IRA terrorists, I am acutely aware of the short and long term impact of terrorism.”

On Friday, November 13 a series of gun and bomb attacks took place across the French capital from the Bataclan Hall to a Parisian restaurant and the Stade de France football stadium, all of which were organised by terrorist organisation ISIS.

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes
Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes

More than 130 people were killed and around 300 were injured.

Cllr Eddy said such cuts will add “increased pressure” to other emergency services if something similar occurs.

“The Dover District Council area is very clearly in the front line in combating terrorism and contains a number of potential targets within its boundaries or extremely close by,” he said.

Home Secretary Theresa May
Home Secretary Theresa May

“I realise that many of these services are provided by organisations which lie outside the Home Office remit, but they are crucial to the effective functioning of the police in dealing with terrorist incidents.

“I would therefore ask you not only to make every effort to maintain the current funding for Kent Police but also to take up with your ministerial colleagues the needs of all those local government bodies dealing with emergencies.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will be announcing cuts and funding to various public sectors on Wednesday in the Autumn Statement 2015.

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