Jake Berry MP has asked for an urgent meeting with the Chief Constable of Lancashire to discuss the closure of six police stations in East Lancashire.

The Chief Constable made his views clear on March 29 in an interview on the Today programme when he warned that he cannot leave front line policing untouched.

Yet on 4th April Mr Berry voted down an opposition amendment that noted that Chief Constables across the country felt they were being put in an impossible position by cuts of 20 per cent and that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has said they can cope with 12 per cent cuts at best.

The cuts to policing will save £42million, but at what cost to the people of Lancashire who will have to pay the price of the increase in crime that is sure to follow.

As the Chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation has said “government bashing” is “opening up the door for criminals”.

Tom Evans, Darwen