Catherine McKinnell, Member of Parliament for Newcastle North, today challenged Home Office Ministers over their cuts to frontline police and the disrespectful attitude shown to police officers by Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell.

During Home Office questions Catherine praised police officers for their work in local communities but raised concerns that their jobs will become increasingly harder, due to reckless cuts to frontline budgets and questioned the impact these cuts on police morale, alongside recent comments by the Government Chief Whip.

Since the Coalition came to power, data from the Home Office highlights that Northumbria Police has lost 251 officers, and is expected to lose up to 730 by March 2015 according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Catherine asked “What does the Minister believe has been the impact on police morale of a cabinet member verbally abusing a police officer at a time when his government is implementing reckless cuts to frontline policing up and down the country?”.

Following the exchange, Catherine commented “Police officers do vitally important work, protecting our communities and deserve nothing less than our upmost respect.

“Yet this Government has only shown contempt for our officers by slashing police budgets and making frontline officers redundant. This disrespect is highlighted by the outdated and arrogant views expressed by Mr Mitchell to those officers who keep him safe.

“It shows real lack of judgment that Mr Cameron has allowed his Chief Whip to stay in place and demonstrates just how out of touch this Prime Minister and Government really are”.