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Some SMEs are finding it harder to find finance, but there are regional variations, variations among banks and even variations within banks. There may have been some movement of foreign banks out of the UK, so there may be less capacity, but I think that a real element of fear exists.
Of course, it is open to the Government to take a different position; indeed, what we have seen is the potential for change other than simple spending cuts, which may affect those behavioural relationships and may mean that the cut will be less.
If it had been known to us at the time, it would have been a fairly clear signal that something could be going badly wrong, which may or may not have triggered action on the council’s part.
Thirdly, mobilisation of community resources is required. Those resources may include other public sector services and agencies, such as local authorities and health boards, that may have the mechanisms with which to deliver community policing.