Federation warns of cuts threat to bobbies on the beat

BOBBIES ON the beat are in danger of disappearing from the streets in the wake of budget cuts, rank-and-file police leaders claim.

Three-quarters of forces have cut or merged dedicated neighbourhood teams, according to research by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).

The organisation says austerity measures are threatening to force officers to retreat from communities as they have to concentrate on responding to emergencies.

A survey by the PFEW found that since 2010, 19 of the 43 forces in England and Wales have merged neighbourhood policing teams with emergency response teams or other departments.

Another 14 have cut, or are planning to cut, numbers in their neighbourhood teams, according to the research.

Eight forces have no plans to change their contingents, while two – Cheshire and City of London – say they have boosted numbers.

In a speech at the organisation’s annual conference today, PFEW chairman Steve White will tell rank-and-file officers: “We are down to the bone and having to decide – neighbourhood policing or 999 calls?

“Neighbourhood policing is the foundation of local confidence, trust and reassurance in communities that the police are there, that we will be there when needed, policing with their consent.”

Yorkshire branches of the Police Federation recently ran their own campaigns highlighting reductions in manpower locally.

In West Yorkshire, home of the region’s largest police force, nearly 1,000 officers have been lost in five years and cuts of £163m have been made to budgets.

South Yorkshire Police has lost 500 police officer jobs over the last eight years. By 2020 it is estimated there will only be 2,000 officers left – 1,300 less than in 2007.

Mike Penning, Minister for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice, said: “Police reform is working and crime has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010, according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.

“This means citizens and communities are safer than at any point since the survey began in 1981.”