MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) — The UK's Labour party will attempt to prevent the firing of 1,100 police officers in 2015, and continue with plans to create a new national refuge fund for victims of domestic violence, The Guardian reported Wednesday.
British Labour party politician and member of Parliament (MP), Yvette Cooper, is expected to address the plans in her speech during the party's annual conference held in Manchester from September 21 to September 24.
Some 50 million GBP saved from halting future police and crime commissioner elections will be used to fund extra police officers and reverse a 31 percent cut in funding towards women refuges. The financial support is part of the party's "zero-based review" which works to locate funds for the frontline and policing budgets.
Over the last four years over 16,000 police jobs have been lost in the UK and 27 percent cuts in Whitehall grants to the police have led to plans firing some 1,100 officers in 2015. Some 41 million GBP would prevent the ongoing employment cuts, funds which could be procured by abolishing police commissioners as well as additional savings.
"Refuges provide vital support for women and children. Local specialist services that have a track record of successfully helping women and children need our support and that's what we will do," Cooper was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Since the cut in refuge funding in 2010, 32 specialist refuges have been closed, one in six in the country. Another eight refuges currently face the possibility of closing.
The Labour party's Annual Conference is held every Fall and is considered one of the largest and most significant political events in Europe. The meeting hosts debates aimed at shaping the UK through the objectives of the Labour party.
