Astonishing announcement by Police Authority spokesman at Luton Council meeting.

“I couldn’t believe my ears, we had to ask him twice to be sure,” says Liberal Democrat leader, David Franks.

The government grant for Bedfordshire Police for the financial year starting next April is £3.8M less than it should have been if the government had not changed the formula to Bedfordshire’s disadvantage. Despite long and loud protests the Home Office have said they would not be paying this shortfall.

At the recent meeting of the full Council an astonished gathering of Luton Councillors listened as Police Authority spokesman, Labour councillor Mohammed Farooq, announced that Bedfordshire Police Authority is after all to receive the £3.8M.

“We really thought this battle with the government was well and truly lost. I couldn’t believe my ears, we had to ask him twice to be sure,” said Liberal Democrat leader, David Franks.

“But Councillor Farooq is the official Luton spokesman for the Police Authority so we must accept his statement at face value. This is very good news indeed for policing in Luton and the rest of Bedfordshire.”