Federation warns financial cuts will devastate policing

11 September 2010

 

Regarding possible police cuts as a result of the coming Comprehensive Spending Review, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation, says:

"We have asked our 43 Federation branch boards what the impact of a budget cut of 25 percent will mean for them. The results of those who have been able to reply to date make grim reading.

"Many forces have frozen recruitment and are not replacing police officers when they retire. A number are considering use of A19 to compulsory retire police officers with 30 years or more service.

"This all means we could potentially see a reduction in police officer numbers of anything up to 40,000 in the lifetime of this coalition government.

"The time has come for the government to come clean with the public. Budget cuts of this magnitude will affect frontline policing, whether it's domestic violence units, neighbourhood policing teams, air support units, dog units, public order units or general CID.

“The only winner will be the criminal - to them it's an early Christmas present. Especially when coupled with the Justice Secretary's intention to empty the prisons in favour of more failing community service order schemes.

"Our plea to government is simple. It's not too late; protect the police budget and protect your police service. Or else be honest with the public, as the level of policing currently delivered will not be sustainable if we have budgets cut by one quarter."

 

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