A recent local government survey conducted across the public in the region, delivered some interesting results. As the Government has stated that the NHS and Overseas aid will be ring fenced in terms of funding and police, immigration, education etc. will be cut, the public have other opinions. The survey clearly published the public’s desire to see the NHS and Overseas aid cut and Police and Security ring fenced.

In some ways the public are the more intelligent reviewers of what is important to maintain social stability in times of austerity than the government and there are obvious concerns that crime will significantly increase and public order may become a problem. We have seen over the last week what is involved in tracking down a single dangerous individual in Northumbria and the man power and costs associated with this single incident will run in to the millions of pounds. Can the Government therefore justify a 25% cut in the budget of policing or should there be a review of the priorities and what is actually important in terms of maintaining public confidence through what we will be a torturous time in the UK ahead?