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Police officer numbers fall to lowest level in decade | Police officer numbers fall to lowest level in decade |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level for a decade, official figures show. | The number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level for a decade, official figures show. |
There were 135,838 police officers in September 2011 - 6,012 fewer than the 141,850 there had been a year earlier. | There were 135,838 police officers in September 2011 - 6,012 fewer than the 141,850 there had been a year earlier. |
Only one of the 43 forces, Surrey Police, increased police officer numbers over that period. | Only one of the 43 forces, Surrey Police, increased police officer numbers over that period. |
Police civilian staff numbers in September 2011 stood at 69,407, down 8,820 or 11.3% over the 12 months. | Police civilian staff numbers in September 2011 stood at 69,407, down 8,820 or 11.3% over the 12 months. |
But the number of special constables, who are volunteers, went up by more than 2,500 (15.5%) to 19,366. | But the number of special constables, who are volunteers, went up by more than 2,500 (15.5%) to 19,366. |
The figures show the number of officers fell by more than 3,000 from last March alone. | The figures show the number of officers fell by more than 3,000 from last March alone. |
The biggest percentage reduction in officers was in Derbyshire, which saw a 7.5% fall - 156 officers - followed by Nottinghamshire, which fell by 6.9% - 165 officers - and Devon and Cornwall, which fell by 6.1% or 213 officers. | The biggest percentage reduction in officers was in Derbyshire, which saw a 7.5% fall - 156 officers - followed by Nottinghamshire, which fell by 6.9% - 165 officers - and Devon and Cornwall, which fell by 6.1% or 213 officers. |
The figures come as Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tony Melville warned of the dangers of further cuts to his force's budget, saying it was on a "metaphorical cliff edge". | The figures come as Gloucestershire Police Chief Constable Tony Melville warned of the dangers of further cuts to his force's budget, saying it was on a "metaphorical cliff edge". |
'Challenging time' | 'Challenging time' |
We shouldn't be surprised that officer numbers are coming down. | |
The Inspectorate of Constabulary predicted there would be 16,000 fewer officers by 2015 than there were in 2010, as a result of budget cuts. | |
If their forecasts are correct, there are 10,000 more jobs to go. | |
Chief constables can't make police officers redundant, so they are making savings by scaling back recruitment and, in some areas, forcibly retiring officers who have completed 30 years' service. | |
Cuts to civilian police staff, who can be forced to leave, are about halfway through - with almost 9,000 posts gone. | |
Chief Constable Tony Melville's stark warning that his Gloucestershire force was heading for a "cliff edge" indicates how stretched some forces have become. | |
But there is no sign - so far - that crime is going up as a result, and ministers continue to insist that there's still scope for more savings. | |
Chief Constable Peter Fahy, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for workforce development, said it was "not surprising" to see a fall in the numbers of officers as most police forces had seen significant cuts. | Chief Constable Peter Fahy, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for workforce development, said it was "not surprising" to see a fall in the numbers of officers as most police forces had seen significant cuts. |
"This is a very difficult time for most police forces with staff leaving and the challenge of managing redundancy and change programmes," he said. | "This is a very difficult time for most police forces with staff leaving and the challenge of managing redundancy and change programmes," he said. |
"Workforce morale is understandably affected by the pay freeze, proposed increment freeze and increase in pension contributions." | "Workforce morale is understandably affected by the pay freeze, proposed increment freeze and increase in pension contributions." |
Mr Fahy went on to say the effectiveness of policing could not be measured by the number of officers alone, but by reductions in crime and increases in public confidence. | Mr Fahy went on to say the effectiveness of policing could not be measured by the number of officers alone, but by reductions in crime and increases in public confidence. |
"We will shortly enter the most difficult financial year for policing in living memory but forces have the plans to cope with what will be a most challenging time," he said. | "We will shortly enter the most difficult financial year for policing in living memory but forces have the plans to cope with what will be a most challenging time," he said. |
On the positive side, he said, many forces had started recruiting again, or would continue to do so in the next financial year. | On the positive side, he said, many forces had started recruiting again, or would continue to do so in the next financial year. |
But he said this would not compensate for "what will still be a long-term reduction in numbers". | But he said this would not compensate for "what will still be a long-term reduction in numbers". |
'Front-line rise' | 'Front-line rise' |
The government is cutting central government funding to police in England and Wales by 20% over five years, as a result of the 2010 Spending Review. | The government is cutting central government funding to police in England and Wales by 20% over five years, as a result of the 2010 Spending Review. |
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures were "shocking" and urged the government to take "urgent heed" of Mr Melville's warning that police are facing a "cliff edge" due to the scale of the cuts. | |
She said the figures came at the same time that England and Wales was seeing the biggest increase in personal crime in a decade. | |
"The home secretary's 20% cuts go much further than the 12% recommended by the independent inspectorate and supported by Labour. | |
"The home secretary must now admit her claim that frontline services would be safe has been proved wrong and out of touch. | |
"The prime minister's decision to cut policing too far and too fast when many crimes are increasing is putting communities at risk. | |
MPs of all parties should vote against the scale of government's cuts to their local police force in Parliament on 8 February," she said. | |
Policing minister Nick Herbert said: "There were around 25,000 officers in backroom jobs, giving forces plenty of scope to save money while still protecting the front line. | Policing minister Nick Herbert said: "There were around 25,000 officers in backroom jobs, giving forces plenty of scope to save money while still protecting the front line. |
"In fact, forces are protecting neighbourhood policing, and the proportion of the police workforce on the front line is rising. | "In fact, forces are protecting neighbourhood policing, and the proportion of the police workforce on the front line is rising. |
"What matters most is how officers are deployed. By cutting bureaucracy and working more efficiently, police visibility on the streets can be improved." | "What matters most is how officers are deployed. By cutting bureaucracy and working more efficiently, police visibility on the streets can be improved." |