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Do the police really need 20% cuts – will that help the economy.
Do the police really need 20% cuts – will that help the economy. If you think that’s a bit political just click here http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/09/16/Public_spending_160909.pdf and see how little the police service costs in relation to other government spending.
4th April 2011 the Labour party forced a debate on police cuts in the House of Commons. The debate began on the following:
That this House notes the Association of Chief Police Officers' statement that there will be 12,000 fewer police officers because of the Government's cuts to central government funding for the police; considers that chief constables across England and Wales are being put in an impossible position by the Government's 20 per cent. cut to central government funding; notes that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said the police budget could be reduced 'at best' by 12 per cent. and that 'a cut beyond 12 per cent. would almost certainly reduce police availability'; further notes that HMIC has said that 95 per cent. of police officers do not work in back office roles; regrets that because of the Government's 20 per cent. cut frontline police officers are being lost in every region of England and in Wales; is deeply concerned by recent statements from police forces and authorities that show the level of cuts being forced upon them by the Government, amounting to 1,158 police officers in the South West, 1,428 police officers in the South East, 1,215 police officers in the East of England, 579 police officers in Wales, 783 police officers in the East Midlands, 1,573 police officers in the West Midlands, 573 in the North East, 3,175 in the North West, 1,242 in Yorkshire and the Humber and 1,200 in London; calls on the Government to think again; and rejects the cuts to frontline police officers the Government is forcing upon police forces.
Here’s a link to the debate on Hansard so you can see if the MPs in your area spoke and, if they did, what they said.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110404/debtext/110404-0003.htm#st_o404
From reading this it does not appear that any North Yorkshire MP spoke in the debate. However with the exception of Hugh Bayley (York) it is our understanding they all voted against the motion – you may choose to ask them why. Indeed television coverage of the debate appeared to suggest many who actually voted were not present during the debate. Surely something as serious as this warrants a Royal Commission.
A Royal Commission is something the Police Federation of England & Wales have been asking for from successive governments over a number of years. But things have changed - this government has embarked on an ideological reform of policing whilst trying to take the opportunity to suppress police officers pay, conditions of service and pensions.
The police service is an institution within society that is based on pragmatic and practical imperatives and on which society relies on to keep it safe. The police service is not an adventure playground for intellectuals who can walk away unaffected from any failure they create. Policing is too precious for that to happen. There seems to have been little or no assessment of the downside risks associated with government policies, only the crossing of fingers and the hope that it will be alright on the night. That is not good enough. We and the communities we serve deserve better. Politicians need to wake up and take their responsibilities seriously as this rushed, fragmented and carry on regardless approach will all end in tears. The future of policing needs to be decided properly. We have commissioned 5000 postcards for our members and their families to and post to their respective local Member of Parliament calling for a Royal Commission on Policing to be completed by every household. This builds on an initiative development in the West Midlands because:
- The Government says it wants to protect front-line policing. But, until recently there was no definition of what actually makes up the front-line;
- Many policing experts are now calling on the Government to launch a Royal Commission on policing;
- A Royal Commission would lead to a root and branch review of policing and would help develop a police service that is fit for purpose
Please lobby your MP to support Early Day Motion 1604 and lets have a Royal Commission on Policing to decide once and for all what the future shape, size and makeup of policing should be.
We wish to place on record our thanks to John Mackfall secretary of the North Yorkshire Branch of UNISON who has agreed to distribute the postcards to his members and we await a response from Glyn Payne – secretary of the North Yorkshire Branch of the Superintendent’s Association to whom we have made the same request.
To read more about the Royal Commission please see blog2 at http://www.polfed.org/sergeants/SCC_Chairmans_Weekly_Blog.asp
