article_snippet.sent: This is the direct consequence of of Tory police cuts, yet now they want to go even further.'
article_snippet.sent: The number of police officers across England and Wales has fallen by 17,000 since 2009 with several forces planning even more extreme reductions.
article_snippet.sent: The Metropolitan Police is one of the only forces in the country which has been able to keep front-line officer numbers at earlier levels.
article_snippet.sent: Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said: 'What Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales are seeing are the dangers of the governemnt cutting the police budgets so harshly over the last five years.
article_snippet.sent: There are now 17,000 fewer officers and 17,000 fewer police staff around - what does the government expect to happen? '
article_snippet.sent: Cuts have consequences and the politicians must start backing the police service.
article_snippet.sent: However, the Home Office dismisses the criticism claiming that crime levels are continuing to fall.
highlights_snippet.sent: There are now 17,000 fewer police officers across the country than in 2009 .
  