Jack Dromey MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister, responding to Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners stopping their chiefs signing a letter drafted by Sir Peter Fahy expressing concerns about their ability to deliver the service required due to further budget reallocations, said:

“Political interference of Tory Police and Crime Commissioners in the operational concerns of chief constables is totally unacceptable.

"Chief Constables are right to speak out if they have concerns about their ability to maintain public safety due to the loss of police officers under the Tories and their approach to policing.

"Once again, we are witnessing fundamental flaws in Theresa May’s flagship reform to police governance, with political interference by some PCCs in the operational independence of the police.

"Labour will scrap PCCs, make the police accountable through locally elected representatives, will introduce a national procurement programme and stop the subsidy to gun owners of an expensive licensing system. These savings will be invested in front-line policing, something Theresa May is failing to do.”