David Cameron has called for Zero Tolerance on Crime. Is it possible to deliver this goal while he is busy handed out P45s to policemen? London, Birmingham and Manchester will see their number reduce by 1,000 officer each. Yet he is asking them to do more.
The cuts to the police must be rescinded. And more resources put into catching criminals. Anything other than that, and Cameron's words are just hot air.
If DC does have a re-think on his cutting down on the police force - which I think he might - will he then be accused of doing a u-turn, is he damned if he does or damned if he does not?
I am not aware of any P45s being handed out to policemen. Numbers can be reduced if necessary by not replacing leavers.
I think the 'cuts' will be 'deferred', although the plan was never to reduce the number of police on the streets- it was aimed more at reducing back office work, just a smost private sector companies regularly have to do
I believe the phrase is 'forcibly retire'. They are told there is no job, and given a hefty sum to go away. Whatever you call it, reducing the force by 1000 officers is not going to catch more criminals.
More officers on the street with paperwork and station based roles being conducted by cheaper civilian staff might be an option surely ... they managed to flood the streets with police officers during the riots
Mr Cameron says the police service cuts can be made without affecting front line policing. He makes it sound as though many of the job-cuts he proposes were unnecessary jobs in the first place. We need to know more about this.
The facts are that the Government is asking the police to make a 6% reduction in their overall budget, how they do it is up to them, there is no reason why there should be any less officers out there. Considering the state of the countries economy, a 6% cut in expenditure seems a reasonable request to any organisation in the public sector wouldn't you say?
Altegrity Risk International is a Private Security Company recently set up by Bill Bratten. How much is the Government planning to pay this company? How many police officers would that pay for? What happened to Cameron's pledge to cut connsultants?
@Gromit, Please read my post again - and read country's for 'countries' :-) -
Increasing police numbers because we live in 'austere times' seems a dubious reason to me. Having more policemen/women in stations filling in forms won't move the plot on; getting more from what we already have is the mood of the day.
The majority of cuts are going to be back room staff and natural wastage, they are also looking at reducing the number of police stations each county has as that will provide a massive reduction in costs without having to cut front line numbers.
Steve.5 maybe if people stopped carrying firearms in public (real or replica) the police wouldn't be placed in the positions they have been. Respect from the younger generation is what is really needed.
They have been dragged up thinking they deserve everything on a plate without having to do a days work thanks to a pathetic benefits system that means people are better off unemployed with a large family as the state will provide for them. perhaps if they had to do work around the community to get the benefits they may change their attitudes!