I READ with interest the article regarding the cuts in Greater Manchester Policing funding amounting to £185million since 2010 and officer numbers plummeting from 8,200 to less than 5,000.

Of course cuts as severe as these are bound to make a serious difference in the ability of the Force to deliver effective policing that meets the needs of the communities they serve. Anyone who thinks otherwise are seriously 'deluded' themselves.

For many years, even before the worldwide financial crisis caused by greedy bankers and their bungling management, Greater Manchester Police Force have been required to make 'efficiency' savings year on year. This meant that there was virtually no areas in which further cuts could be made without impacting on the level to which policing could be delivered to communities.

Greater Manchester faces some of the worst problems in terms of deprivation, poverty, chronic health problems, serious and organised crime and drug and alcohol abuse, all of which lead to social problems and increase in crime and anti social behaviour. Inspector Ian Hanson is correct when he says that "the police are the callout of last resort".

That means that they always pick up on the "fallout" where other agencies are unable to.

With all due respect, I really wish that the senior managers of the police, local government and health would stop trying to delude the public by saying that these huge cuts "will not affect services" and "business as usual".

It is like standing on the tilting deck of the Titanic and telling the passengers "don't worry we have been assured that this ship is unsinkable" whilst busily re-arranging the deck chairs. At least be honest with the public and listen to the people who work for you. You know, they do know a bit about the service, after all you trained them.

Sharron Howard

Buckley Lane

Farnworth