The half-page advert, featuring a gun-toting hoodie pointing a weapon at the reader, appeared in regional editions of the free newspaper Metro in 16 major cities.
The Conservative think tank Policy Exchange called the advert “sinister”, “irresponsible”, and “scaremongering” but the Police Federation insisted the only people who would benefit from unworkable, “irresponsible” cuts would be criminals.
The row came as Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Government of provoking police forces into confrontation and creating a “perfect storm” by cutting funding for police, crime prevention and probation services simulataneously.
Ms Cooper told MPs that Labour accepts the need for efficiencies but said that even Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies had argued that 12 per cent cuts would be ambitious and difficult, never mind 20 per cent.
To cut above 12 per cent would reduce police availability, as 95 per cent of police officers do not work in back office roles but on the “front line”.
During an Opposition debate in the House of Commons Ms Cooper detailed what she said would be the full extent of reduced police numbers:1,158 police officers in the South West,1,428 police officers in the South East, 1,215 police officers in the East of England, 579 police officers in Wales,783 police officers in the East Midlands, 1,573 police officers in the West Midlands, 573 in the North East, 3,175 in the North West, 1,242 in Yorkshire and the Humber and 1,200 in London.
“There will be 12,500 fewer officers and 15,000 fewer support staff. That is the equivalent of the combined police strength of Yorkshire and Humberside, or the equivalent of the forces of Durham, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Dorset combined”, said Ms Cooper.
Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger told MPs Merseyside police force had already made “the biggest efficiency savings in the country” before it’s funding was cut “and now 800 police officers and 1,200 police support staff will not be employed”.
