Could the increase in police overtime bill be actually due to the shortage in police numbers and the ever increasing protests in London?

A recent article quoting a police overtime bill that has increased by £100m- knocking it as crime has not dropped, leads to an interesting scenario. This weekend saw multiple stabbings once again. Imagine the officers called to one of these horrendous incidents is due to finish their long shift in the next ten minutes. They could in theory attend the scene for their remainder ten minutes, then jump in their van and wave goodbye, heading home as many personnel do. Or however, the most probable scenario is that the officers remain due to the vital necessity of their job. Perhaps this is a precursor as to why this bill is so high.

Not only is policing a job like no others as they say-it is also a job where you cannot switch off your pc, leave your desk and just go home at the end of your day like most do.

Officer numbers have declined as we all know, they have declined so drastically that boroughs across London frequently struggle to make full teams across our BCUs. The high level of protests across central London are draining resources. Just Stop Oil have, through their protesting methods caused a huge financial burden across the capital to our police force and shamefully used such a high number of officers taken from our boroughs that the impact across local policing teams has struggled.

Yet, now the overtime bill comes through, comments such as -“Us taxpayers will be wondering what this expensive police overtime is actually delivering’. For the idiot asking this, join a policing team and see for yourself. Oh no, you won’t do that will you! Might actually see the reality of policing today.

Officers work long hours, they are tired, and doing more than many realise to keep our communities safe. Despite being told there are lots of new officers, that magic tree that is shaken and ripened officers appear on our streets, has failed to deliver as yet.

This overtime bill could well be due to the shortage in officer numbers and their demanding requirements in central London due to the ongoing protests each week. Once again it is our officers that always are under constant attack for just doing their job.

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