BURY Council is seeking vital assurances that local communities will be protected as far as possible in the wake of reports that Greater Manchester Police faces fresh cuts in funding.

A delegation will be seeking a meeting with Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Tony Lloyd while the local authority will underline its concerns in a letter to the Secretary of State responsible for policing.

Additionally, Bury's MPs David Nuttall and Ivan Lewis will be requested to take up the worries with the Government.

A motion calling for this action, and detailing the consequences of police cuts, was approved at a full meeting of the council last Wednesday.

Labour councillors who signed the motion say the latest proposed cuts in funding "mean that GMP (Greater Manchester Police) are now now at crisis point."

The motion continued: " The changing nature and complexity of crime, combined with a dwindling budget and the loss of thousands of officers, pose extraordinary challenges."

Cllr Jane Lewis, cabinet member for communities, told councillors at the meeting that GMP is being asked for yet another "substantial" budget cut.

She continued: "Based on scant information provided, GMP looks to be facing a further £52 million cut from the policing budget — on top of the £275 million already cut. To date, these cuts have meant a significant reduction in overall policing numbers.

"Since 2010, the number of police officers has reduced from 8,178 to 6,722, that's nearly 1,500 fewer officer. The number of support staff has reduced from 6,280 to 3,792, that's nearly 2,500 fewer.

"On current projections, it is anticipated that by 2019, there will be only 4,000 police officers across Greater Manchester. With a population of 2.5 million, that equates to one police officer per 625 people. Across 10 local authorities, that's 400 police officers per area to provide a 24-hour service. Although these are crude measures, neither sound sustainable or reasonable to me, and no doubt the ratio would be even worse in Bury."

Cllr Lewis added: "As local politicians, we have all heard residents complain about police response times or that they don't see police out and about any more. That perception is bound to get worse should this cut be implemented. And according to Home Office figures, the number of reported crimes has increased significantly."

She called for all political parties to come together "to make the necessary representations to both Government and our PCC to ensure the continued safety our communities in Bury."