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West Midlands police chief says public not getting service they expect West Midlands police chief says public not getting service they expect
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The chief constable of one of England’s biggest police forces has said the “reality” of modern-day policing means the public are sometimes not getting the service they expect. The chief constable of one of England’s biggest police forces has said the reality of modern-day policing means the public are sometimes not getting the service they expect.
David Thompson, of West Midlands Police, said demand on the force was increasing, with cuts across all public services meaning more vulnerable people were coming into contact with the police. David Thompson, of West Midlands police, said demand on the force was increasing, with cuts across all public services meaning more vulnerable people were coming into contact with the police.
Warning that the “list” of crimes that needed to be investigated, including modern-day slavery and gang crime, was increasing, he admitted that it had left policing in a position that was “not sustainable”. Warning that the “list” of crimes that needed to be investigated, including modern-day slavery and gang crime, was increasing, he said it had left policing in an unsustainable position.
He told the BBC: “The level of calls we’re receiving this summer are very challenging (and) sometimes that service that we’re providing (at) those peak times doesn’t meet what the public expect. He told the BBC: “The level of calls we’re receiving this summer are very challenging … sometimes that service that we’re providing [at] those peak times doesn’t meet what the public expect.
“We may be dealing with it over the phone where they would like to see us and I’m sorry about that but that is the reality of where policing is now. “We may be dealing with it over the phone where they would like to see us and I’m sorry about that but that is the reality of where policing is now. And on some occasions ... the service will not meet what I want it to do and it will not meet the response that the public absolutely will want when they’re at a time of vulnerability.”
“And on some occasions ... the service will not meet what I want it to do and it will not meet the response that the public absolutely will want when they’re at a time of vulnerability.” He added that the force was “drawing the bar higher” on what it would investigate, but stressed this did not refer to offences such as serious assaults.
He added that the force was “drawing the bar higher” on what it would investigate, but stressed that this did not refer to offences such as serious assaults. Thompson, who is also finance lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has previously warned of “hard choices” for police forces amid challenges such as the terrorism threat and rising cybercrime.
Thompson, who is also finance lead for the National Police Chiefs Council, has previously warned of “hard choices” for police forces amid challenges such as the terrorism threat and rising cyber crime. Last year he said the public might have to wait a bit longer for police to respond to non-urgent calls, and that just having to “manage the day job” had created “stretch”.
Last year he said the public might have to “wait a bit longer” for police to respond to non-urgent calls, and admitted that just having to “manage the day job” had created “stretch”. The Home Office has said total investment in the police system will be increased by over £460m in 2018-19, with West Midlands police receiving a cash increase of £9.9m compared with 2017-18.
The Home Office says total investment in the police system will be increased by over £460m in 2018-19, with West Midlands Police receiving a cash increase of £9.9m compared with 2017-18. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, used his first major speech after his appointment in May to offer an olive branch to rank-and-file officers, following years of acrimony over funding cuts and staffing reductions.
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, used his first major speech after his appointment in May to offer an olive branch to rank-and-file personnel, following years of acrimony over funding cuts and staffing reductions.
He pledged to provide “tools, the powers and the back-up that you need to get the job done”, adding: “I am listening and I get it.”He pledged to provide “tools, the powers and the back-up that you need to get the job done”, adding: “I am listening and I get it.”
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