Cash-strapped police officers with an ‘unprecedented workload’ have caused fury after posing in Halloween-themed snaps – rather than getting out on the streets fighting crime.
Fenland Police in Cambridgeshire posted a series of images on Twitter showing a uniformed officer inside a police station dressed in a cartoon mask.
The cop, jokingly named PC Frankenstein, was pictured sitting in an interview room, opening a cell door, and from behind bars while working a night shift.
Fenland Police posted a series of images on Twitter showing a uniformed officer, jokingly named PC Frankenstein inside a police station dressed in a cartoon mask
Each image was captioned #Halloween2017 and linked to an unofficial Twitter page UK Cop Humour.
Earlier this month, Humberside Police were criticised for allowing 18 police officers to ride dodgems while on duty, despite repeatedly saying they are stretched and understaffed.
But the pictures posted on Tuesday have been blasted by a victim of crime who feels the officer’s time could have been better spent.
Mike Townley, 53, whose house was broken into earlier this year by a burglar who was never caught, said: ‘I was under the impression these officers were run off their feet.
‘They should be out fighting crime not taking stupid pictures of themselves.
‘If they want to dress up for Halloween they should do it in their own time, not when they’re on duty.
‘It doesn’t give a very tough message out to criminals, they should be doing what they’re paid for.’
The cop, jokingly named PC Frankenstein, was pictured sitting in an interview room, opening a cell door, and from behind bars while working a night shift. The pictures posted on Tuesday have been blasted by a victim of crime who feels the officer’s time could have been better spent
In July, it was revealed Cambridgeshire Police has seen a large rise in recorded crime as it faces a budget deficit of nearly £10million over the next three years.
It follows a 17 per cent reduction in workforce since 2010 and raised concerns around the level of demand facing policing in the county.
Cambridgeshire has some of the highest levels of 999 and 101 calls in the country, between 190,000 and 210,000 incidents per year.
Up to 23 per cent of calls are immediate grades and therefore require a response within 15 minutes and up to 23 per cent are prompt grades and require a response within an hour.
Cambridgeshire receives below the national average funding and has fewer officers per head of population compared to the national average.
Speaking at a media briefing earlier in the year, Cambridgeshire Police Chief Constable Alec Wood said: ‘Demand for our services has never been higher and this is putting pressure on our control room and the frontline.
‘Nationally policing is seeing an increase in “999” calls and recorded crime, and Cambridgeshire is no different.
‘At times of high demand a number of officers and staff are having to work long hours, having rest days cancelled and dealing with a high volume of incidents.’