The Government’s New Plans For Policing Will Do little To Raise Collapsing Police Morale Or Address The Huge Retention Problems Forces Face.

As new policing plans are introduced by this government, officers shake their heads in despair as they will do little to raise collapsing police morale across the country or address the problems of recruitment and retention. The reality is officers are either being cut or leaving. Former Metropolitan Police Officer Chris Hobbs today writes:

The Met itself is close to imploding; the Commissioner has already said that a huge financial deficit of some £450 million will mean cuts in Met police numbers and further police station closures (Are there any left to close?)

Over the last few months reports and headlines have stated that police ‘need to do more’ in respect of: Domestic Violence, Stalking, Human Trafficking, Sexual Offences, Burglary, Knife Crime, Moped Crime, Rolex Robberies, Fraud, County Lines, Grooming Gangs, Anti-Social Behaviour, Rural Crime, Shoplifting, Pedal Cycle Theft, e-Scooters, ‘electric’ bikes, Pet Theft. Road Safety, Plant and Machinery Theft, Wildlife Crime, Forged Postage Stamps. 

It’s worth pointing out that the French, with a similar population to ourselves, albeit a larger geographical area, have around 100,000 more police officers than the UK. (The National Police are responsible to the major cities; the Gendarmerie smaller towns and rural areas). 

The 13,000 additional officers quote has now proved an illusion. It would appear to mean just 3,000 actual regular police officers spread across 43 forces; The balance consists of police community support officers and volunteer unpaid special constables. There are already problems with recruiting and retaining specials.

The single nominated named officer role will be regarded as a poison chalice, especially in heavily populated city areas, by whichever officer is nominated. That officer and his continuously ringing phone will, of course, frequently be off-duty due tohis shift pattern. Text and voicemail messages will have to be triaged as they will invariably include reports of crime even if the officer’s recorded message informs the caller to dial 999 or the too often woeful 101 service. 

Policing across the UK is close to collapse. This ‘tinkering’ at the edges will do little to improve matters. 

Perhaps both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary should have spent some time listening to officers on the front line before embarking on their ‘transformation’ strategy.

Picture Credit: PC Wibble (please note the aptly placed broom)

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