GLOUCESTERSHIRE Lib Dems are calling on the Home Secretary to give police the resources they need.

The group are bringing forward a motion at the County Council meeting on Wednesday, calling for a reversal in cuts to Gloucestershire's police force.

Cllr David Brown who is proposing the motion, will highlight the group’s concern surrounding cuts of over £30 million to Gloucestershire Constabulary’s budget.

The motion recognises the hard work of Gloucestershire's police officers in challenging circumstances.

It will also note hat cuts to the police budget have coincided with a rise in total recorded crime of 13 per cent in 2016/17, with instances of violent crime in Gloucestershire up 26 per cent.

There are now 250 fewer police officers in Gloucestershire than 10 years ago, while the number of police community support officers has fallen by 16 per cent since 2013.

Cllr. David Brown of Barnwood and Hucclecote said: “Local communities across the county are seeing the impact of the Conservative cuts to police budgets, with the drop in police numbers and rising levels of violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

“These cuts to Gloucestershire’s police force have gone too far, which is why we are asking the Conservative Council leader to write to the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the new Home Secretary, calling for him to properly fund the police force and provide it with the resources it needs to serve the communities in Gloucestershire.”