A BOLTON MP claims red tape is stopping police officers from doing their job.

Chris Green became aware of the issue after he shadowed a Bolton police officer on a weekend shift, swapping the green benches of the House of Commons for the blue lights patrolling Bolton.

He has said he hopes to raise the issue of mounting red tape in Parliament once the summer recess is over at the beginning of September.

The MP for Bolton West said: “Greater Manchester Police are under increasing pressures yet they still continue to do a fantastic

job.

“I was pleased to join them on patrol on a Saturday evening so I could see first-hand exactly what work goes into keeping us all safe.

“I was shocked to see that alcohol causes so much of the trouble and it takes up a huge amount of their valuable time having to respond to it.

“One thing I took away from my shift was that there is far too much red tape that prevents police from doing their job.

“There is too much paperwork and they are doing things that other public services should be doing.”

Mr Green went on the night shift after his constituency-wide crime survey revealed residents’ were concerned that levels of crime were increasing.

On a Saturday evening shift Mr Green shadowed a Greater Manchester police officer as they dealt a range of calls while making regular patrols.

Calls included reports of missing children, bouncers being threatened, including one with a knife and a visit to Bolton’s red light

district.