UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today warned that Government cuts had damaged the ability of forces to properly and safely police our streets. The warning followed publication of a report by HMIC* that revealed a 17% cut in police staff with 13,500 fewer police officers and nearly 3,000 fewer PCSOs.
UNISON National Officer, Ben Priestley, pointing out that although the report claimed that the front line was being protected, said
“The front line can only work efficiently if it has sufficient resources, sufficient back-up and sufficient support in the so-called back office. This report shows clearly that there have been huge job cuts that must affect the ability of forces to properly and safely police our streets. The report highlights the fact that police are now not attending emergency and priority cases within the required times as often as before. That situation will only deteriorate as more cuts kick in.”
He pointed out that Lincolnshire, highlighted in the report as a force that is failing to deal with the challenges of austerity, is one of the few forces in England and Wales that has outsourced the majority of its police staff to the private sector. UNISON does not believe that these two factors are unrelated. He said:
“Lincolnshire outsourced 572 police staff to G4S in April last year. In April this year, the force and its private contractor G4S boasted about its ability to deliver better services. Yet now the HMIC report finds that the force has effectively removed its ability to flex its workforce to deal with cuts and austerity measures. We have always argued that privatisation and outsourcing are not the way forward for our public services.”
The increasing use of police support volunteers, also highlighted by the HMIC report is a major cause for concern. Ben Priestley added:
“It’s very worrying that police forces are trying to plug gaps by taking on volunteers, no matter how well-intentioned and public-spirited, because they are, in the main, untrained and inexperienced. They cannot provide the same level of professional oversight and expertise that our members can – most of who have worked in policing for many years. Once that experience is lost, it cannot be replaced. There are huge questions around the training, supervision and vetting of volunteers.
“Equally worrying, is the fact that the Independent Police Complaints Commission cannot investigate volunteers – that is a serious loophole which we think should be dealt with.”
The union has asked the government and the IPCC to plug the loophole and has suggested amendments to the Anti Social Behaviour and Police Reform Bill currently going through Parliament.
*Policing in Austerity – Rising to the Challenge, HMIC