Police forces to cut more than 30,000 officers and staff

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary report says 10% reduction in officers will lead to a 3% rise in crime Police forces in England and Wales plan to cut 34,100 officers and staff over the next four years in a move that will trigger a fresh rise in crime, according to the first authoritative survey of their plans. The first reliable estimate by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary is far higher than the previous claims of 28,000 officers and staff to go by police staff organisations. HMIC says that the 43 police forces plan to cut 16,200 officers, 1,800 police community support officers and 16,100 police staff – a reduction of 14% in the police workforce. The reduction in uniformed police officers represents 11% of the 140,000 constables in the country. The HMIC report will also infuriate Home Office ministers who have been arguing there is no direct link between falling police numbers and levels of crime. The report contradicts this by saying recent research, using more robust methodologies, has demonstrated a clear link and that a 10% fall in officers will lead to a 3% rise in crime. The report says that 11,200 jobs – nearly one-third of the 34,100 cut – have already gone as forces make preparations to deal with a 20% cut in Whitehall funding over the next four years. Separate Home Office figures published on Thursday confirm this by showing that there are 4625 fewer police officers than a year ago – a fall of 3.2% and 5,586 fewer police staff. The survey says that 22 police forces are planning to cut more than 30% of their non-frontline workforce in order to protect frontline numbers. That includes 10 forces who are planning to cut their non-frontline workforce by more than 50%. The 20% cut in Whitehall funded has been front-loaded with two-thirds falling over the next two years and HMIC say it will be “very challenging to protect the frontline” over the next 18 months. Forces will have to transform their efficiency if they are to protect frontline services, the report adds. Police Public sector cuts Crime Alan Travis guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 21, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.