This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/09/home-secretary-police-budgets-theresa-may
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| More responsibilities for police staff and volunteers, says home secretary | |
| (17 days later) | |
| Police staff and volunteers should be given stronger powers so they can take over roles currently performed by uniformed constables, the home secretary has said, as forces brace themselves for a new round of spending cuts. | Police staff and volunteers should be given stronger powers so they can take over roles currently performed by uniformed constables, the home secretary has said, as forces brace themselves for a new round of spending cuts. |
| Theresa May announced her plan to give chief constables much greater flexibility in the way they use their officers and staff after warning forces that reduced police budgets will likely mean even fewer police officers. | Theresa May announced her plan to give chief constables much greater flexibility in the way they use their officers and staff after warning forces that reduced police budgets will likely mean even fewer police officers. |
| Speaking at the police superintendents’ annual conference, May told police leaders not to succumb to the temptation of scaremongering over the impact of the next wave of spending cuts. | Speaking at the police superintendents’ annual conference, May told police leaders not to succumb to the temptation of scaremongering over the impact of the next wave of spending cuts. |
| The accusation that police chiefs are already “shroud-waving” in advance of this autumn’s round of spending cuts was, however, strongly rejected by Sara Thornton, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. | The accusation that police chiefs are already “shroud-waving” in advance of this autumn’s round of spending cuts was, however, strongly rejected by Sara Thornton, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. |
| All unprotected government departments, including the Home Office, last week submitted outlined plans to the Treasury on how they might achieve 25% and 40% reductions in their budgets by 2020. | All unprotected government departments, including the Home Office, last week submitted outlined plans to the Treasury on how they might achieve 25% and 40% reductions in their budgets by 2020. |
| The home secretary said that some chief constables had warned that policing was “on the edge”, that cuts would mean that the police would no longer fulfil essential functions and suggestions they could lead to variations in the level of service. | The home secretary said that some chief constables had warned that policing was “on the edge”, that cuts would mean that the police would no longer fulfil essential functions and suggestions they could lead to variations in the level of service. |
| May said: “I have always been straight with you that budgets will fall further and savings will have to be made in policing as elsewhere in government. I have always been open that reduced police budgets will likely mean fewer police officers. I have never shied away from pointing out areas where I think efficiencies can still be made. | May said: “I have always been straight with you that budgets will fall further and savings will have to be made in policing as elsewhere in government. I have always been open that reduced police budgets will likely mean fewer police officers. I have never shied away from pointing out areas where I think efficiencies can still be made. |
| “This is the reality for which chief constables and police and crime commissioners have planned, and which the public accepts. We must have a grown-up, frank conversation about what is possible, what is necessary, and – most important of all – where we can make policing better for the public and for the officers and staff who fight crime on our behalf every day and night.” | “This is the reality for which chief constables and police and crime commissioners have planned, and which the public accepts. We must have a grown-up, frank conversation about what is possible, what is necessary, and – most important of all – where we can make policing better for the public and for the officers and staff who fight crime on our behalf every day and night.” |
| The home secretary confirmed that she will shortly publish proposals for a much closer relationship between police forces and local fire and rescue services to make savings, cut crime and reduce fires. | The home secretary confirmed that she will shortly publish proposals for a much closer relationship between police forces and local fire and rescue services to make savings, cut crime and reduce fires. |
| The Home Office consultation paper, published by May on Wednesday to give police volunteers and civilian staff stronger powers, says they could be given responsibility for tasks that currently take uniformed constables “thousands of hours”. | The Home Office consultation paper, published by May on Wednesday to give police volunteers and civilian staff stronger powers, says they could be given responsibility for tasks that currently take uniformed constables “thousands of hours”. |
| Police community support officers already have power to detain and escort suspects and to hold somebody for 30 minutes until a constable arrives as well as requiring names and addresses. | Police community support officers already have power to detain and escort suspects and to hold somebody for 30 minutes until a constable arrives as well as requiring names and addresses. |
| Ministers propose to draw up a core list of powers that would only be available to sworn officers, leaving chief constables free to use volunteers and other staff to carry out a much wider range of tasks. This list is likely to include the powers to arrest, stop and search, enter property, intercept communications, act as an undercover officer and a wide range of counter-terrorism powers. | Ministers propose to draw up a core list of powers that would only be available to sworn officers, leaving chief constables free to use volunteers and other staff to carry out a much wider range of tasks. This list is likely to include the powers to arrest, stop and search, enter property, intercept communications, act as an undercover officer and a wide range of counter-terrorism powers. |
| “There is more that volunteers can do,” said May. “This government wants to encourage those with skills in particular demand, such as those with specialist IT or accountancy skills, to get involved and help the police to investigate cyber or financial crime and, as their experience grows, to enable them to play a greater part in investigations. These reforms will also help the police to make further progress on the use of cyber-specials [volunteer police officers with specialist computer skills],” she said citing one particular example. | “There is more that volunteers can do,” said May. “This government wants to encourage those with skills in particular demand, such as those with specialist IT or accountancy skills, to get involved and help the police to investigate cyber or financial crime and, as their experience grows, to enable them to play a greater part in investigations. These reforms will also help the police to make further progress on the use of cyber-specials [volunteer police officers with specialist computer skills],” she said citing one particular example. |