Police launched a co-ordinated plea for more cash yesterday as they warned forces face a ‘perfect storm’ due to staff shortages and rising crime.
Representatives of all but the chief officer ranks said everyday services are only available thanks to fewer people working more hours.
Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, who leads the Police Superintendents’ Association, warned the model is ‘fundamentally flawed’ and could put the public at risk.
Police launched a co-ordinated plea for more cash as they warned forces face a ‘perfect storm’ due to staff shortages and rising crime
He said many officers are suffering depression and stress thanks to the demands of keeping the streets of Britain safe.
Confronting Police Minister Nick Hurd at the Association’s annual conference, he questioned whether politicians are interested in saving money or protecting people.
‘I suggest we have a perfect storm developing, comprised of fewer resources, reduced public services, new threats, and a worrying increase in some types of traditional crime,’ he added.
‘If the model for delivering policing services in the future is fewer people, working longer, each doing ever more, then I suggest that model is fundamentally flawed.’
Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, who leads the Police Superintendents’ Association said that many officers are suffering depression and stress thanks to the demands of keeping the streets of Britain safe
His comments were echoed by Police Federation boss Steve White who said the Government should ask the public what they willing to fund.
‘The warnings have been and gone, we’re firmly in the throes of the storm described,’ the rank-and-file leader said.
‘Despite our member’s unyielding resolve to get the job done and keep the public safe, increasing and changing demand is proving simply too much.’
An independent pay review body is expected to announce soon whether an effective pay freeze for police officers will end.
Salary increases have been capped at 1% for several years, leading officers to complain they have suffered a pay cut as costs rise with inflation.
Police face a force-by-force review of their spending, strategy and budgets as Ministers try to discover whether more savings are possible.
Spending on police has reached a historic high of £11bn, when council tax is taken into account, an increase of £450m since the 2015/16 financial year.
Chief constables are being asked why they hold more than £1.8bn in reserves when they are repeatedly asking for ‘more cash’.
Representatives of all but the chief officer ranks said everyday services are only available thanks to fewer people working more hours
They recently revealed unprecedented numbers of 999 calls are being made amid an 18% increase in violent crime.
The overall number of police officers in England and Wales has risen in the six months to March 2017.
And the number of new officers joining forces has increased by almost 60% since 2015-16, suggesting the career remains attractive to many.
Responding to the comments at the conference in Stratford-upon-Avon, Mr Hurd insisted: ‘We are not deaf, we do get it.’
But he said that any budget decisions must be ‘rooted in evidence and not assertion.’
He said: ‘The message is clear and consistent about stretch and strain and pressure. Experienced police officers tell me they have never worked in these constraints before.’
Mr Hurd added that there must be ‘continued constraints’ on public spending due to questions of ‘affordability and sustainability’.
There were questions about why Amber Rudd did not speak to senior officers in person for the second year running.
In a video message, the Home Secretary told them it has been an ‘extraordinary year’ for policing and the public continue to hold officers in the highest esteem.
She said: ‘The Government is committed to supporting police to deliver the best services possible for the public and officers who put their lives on the line for us every single day.’