CRIMINALS will be "rubbing their hands with glee" at the prospect of cuts to Plymouth's police service, according to a city councillor.
Labour's Philippa Davey believes the Government has misled the public as to the scale of "savage" cuts to Devon and Cornwall Police.
Some Conservative members responded angrily during a heated exchange on Monday evening, saying the cuts are necessary as the previous Labour Government "maxed out the credit card".
Proposing a motion asking the Home Secretary to reconsider altering the funding formula, Cllr Davey said policing is in crisis.
"It is quite clear that this Government is intent on cutting police forces beyond the bone," she said.
"Like communities up and down the country, Plymouth's residents are fearful of the consequences. As the largest urban area in the force Plymouth faces the most cuts, and the impact is bound to be particularly hard felt here.
"Criminals will be rubbing their hands with glee, and it's quite clear that if the public had know about the Government's plans for these savage cuts on our police force, they wouldn't have voted the way they did.
"There will be crimes that just won't be investigated. Crimes will rise. You won't see a uniformed officer on your street or in your neighbourhood."
Devon and Cornwall Police had been facing a £54million budget cut, but earlier this month the Government announced a delay in the funding review , meaning the full impact will not be known until next year.
Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Con) called for calm, saying Labour members were "painting the darkest of pictures" before waiting for the whole story to emerge.
"A very dark picture can be painted, when in actual fact we don't know what the whole picture will be until the Chancellor speaks and the Home Office confirms the police grant," he said.
"There needs to be a measured discussion on this issue."
Cllr Martin Leaves (Con) said:
"Let's be honest with ourselves, we are making the cuts because we have to. There is no more money.
"We have to save money. You don't want to cut the benefits, you don't want to cut this, you don't want to cut that.
"You have maxed out the credit card. We are paying the bills back from your Labour Government. That's why we're faced with cuts."
Cllr Ted Fry (Con) added: "We are in a time of great change, and whenever you have a time of great change there are casualties and uncertainties."
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