CHIEF Constable David Wilmot was this week asked to explain why Bury taxpayers apparently pay more coppers to fund its local "bobbies."

The question arose during a visit by the police chief to Bury on Wednesday.

Mr Wilmot met Town Hall chiefs after visiting Bury police divisional headquarters.

During a half-hour meeting with council officers and leader Councillor Derek Boden, the Chief Constable was tackled on the vexed question of funding.

At last week's full council meeting, it was claimed a Bury policeman costs local taxpayers three times as much as one in Manchester.

And it was also stated the borough was given too few officers by the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) compared to other areas.

Asked to explain this apparent anomaly, Mr Wilmot said: "This is really due to the Government financial systems.

"But at the end of the day, we ensure that every citizen in Greater Manchester is given equal assistance."

The Chief Constable also defended a decision to transfer the existing public assistance desk, based in Bury, to Manchester. "This is being done on grounds of cost effectiveness and efficiency," he said.

After the meeting, Coun Boden commented on the issue of Bury's contribution to police funding.

He said: "The amount available overall is based on the same sort of system which determines how much support the borough gets from the Government in terms of the SSA (Standard Spending Assessment).

"Then, within Greater Manchester Police, resources are allocated on the basis of need as they see them.

"These are based on objectives set as priorities for the force by the Government, secondly by GMPA and thirdly at local level through the crime and disorder strategy we're now responsible for."

He added: "My feeling is we wouldn't expect to get as much as per unit of population as the city of Manchester. But I recognise there will always be arguments whether proportions are right."

The Chief Constable was also asked for his views should Bury Council find more cash to expand its town centre community safety warden scheme to other areas.

"His view was that provided they were under local authority control, he wouldn't have any objections," said the council leader.

Mr Wilmot also praised those involved in drawing up the borough's first-ever crime and disorder audit.

Coun Boden said: "He complimented us on this because of the work we'd done and said we'd put more information into it than just about any other district in Greater Manchester."

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