Crime Commissioner to meet Runcorn shoppers (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

New crime commissioner to visit Runcorn

7:30am Monday 7th January 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

Cheshire’s newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner, John Dwyer, will be in Runcorn’s Halton Lea shopping centre on Thursday,  January 10.

He wants to find out what local residents think about policing, as he travels across Cheshire on a roadshow.

Mr Dwyer, aged 62, from Nantwich, said: "I am drawing up the police and crime plan which will shape the direction of policing in Cheshire.

“By meeting people face to face as they are out shopping, working or taking their lunch break, I can get a real impression of what is important to them and what they think about the objectives I am proposing for my first year in office and beyond.

“I am also deciding the police budget for the coming year. That will affect how much council tax people pay for policing.

“I will welcome people’s views on the budget proposals and where savings could be made to meet the required reductions in funding.

“I see my role as acting as the conduit between the public and the police and I hope people will take advantage of these opportunities to let me know what they think."

Mr Dwyer needs to find £34 million in savings by 2017 due to a dramatic drop in Government funding.

Budget cuts of £6m must be made in 2013/14.

The total grant for Cheshire has fallen by 1.6 per cent to £1.9 million, compared to last year.