“Have We Really Reached the Point of GoFundMe to Save UK Policing?”

Years of government decisions have decimated forces across the country. Now, we are watching the ship sink, piece by piece — with officers jumping off whenever they can.

If you thought policing in this country was on the brink of collapse — you might as well turn off your TV and stop reading the news.

Police forces up and down the country are already in shreds: plagued by poor pay, horrendous cuts, rock-bottom morale, and the fear that every single arrest they make will be scrutinised and condemned. Now, to add insult to injury, a Government Minister has warned that police must “do their part” when it comes to budget pressures. In other words — brace yourselves for even more cuts.

It comes as Chancellor Reeves is poised to reveal how much funding each government department will receive in the coming months. But even before the figures are announced, policing has been told to prepare for less.

Officers on the ground are in disbelief. Forces across the country are already operating past breaking point. What used to be full teams of officers patrolling the streets are now — if we’re lucky — reduced to one or two exhausted officers covering entire boroughs. In London, crime continues to rise. Serious violence, robberies, and antisocial behaviour are increasing — yet police numbers are shrinking.

Last year alone, nearly 9,300 police officers left forces across England and Wales — one of the highest levels of attrition in modern policing history. Over 4,000 officers resigned voluntarily, unable to cope with the relentless pressure, crumbling conditions, and lack of support. Many of these were experienced officers — some of the very people the public needs most.

At the same time, recruitment struggles on. Policing is no longer seen as an attractive career. Why would anyone want to risk their life, their job, and their mental health for such poor pay and little public support?

Morale is at rock bottom. The Police Federation recently warned that forces are past breaking point. A survey showed that nearly 1 in 3 officers are suffering from PTSD or severe mental health issues. Alcohol misuse, another symptom of stress, is on the rise within forces — with officers desperately trying to cope with trauma from the job.

Now, the government wants to slash budgets even further. Just how many more cuts can be made before there is nothing left?

In some areas, residents already feel abandoned. Community policing — once the bedrock of public safety — has been decimated. Many neighbourhoods no longer see regular officers on patrol. Response times have ballooned. Investigations are often delayed or dropped due to lack of resources.

Yet, despite all this, the government message is clear: policing must “tighten its belt.” The bitter irony is that policing has already been stripped to the bone. There is simply nothing left to cut without causing catastrophic harm to public safety.

One has to ask — is it time to start a national GoFundMe to save our police forces? Because, tragically, it seems that’s where we are headed. Years of government decisions have decimated forces across the country. Now, we are watching the ship sink, piece by piece — with officers jumping off whenever they can.

If this continues, the public must be ready for the consequences. Fewer officers. Fewer arrests. Less visible policing. More crime.

We are rapidly approaching a tipping point. How much longer can policing survive like this?

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