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| Chief constable's resignation may not be the last | Chief constable's resignation may not be the last |
| (12 months later) | |
| He is the first chief constable to quit over the government's police reforms, but Tony Melville may not be the last. | He is the first chief constable to quit over the government's police reforms, but Tony Melville may not be the last. |
| The Gloucestershire chief has been the most publicly outspoken about both the cuts being imposed on policing and the changes introduced by the government, but he is not alone in his concerns. | The Gloucestershire chief has been the most publicly outspoken about both the cuts being imposed on policing and the changes introduced by the government, but he is not alone in his concerns. |
| With the news this week that Whitehall's spending watchdog has identified a £500m black hole in the plans by forces in England and Wales to meet the savings required, the pressure on chiefs to shed more officers and staff is even greater. Privately many have worries, and some may simply decide that, like Melville, they have had enough. | With the news this week that Whitehall's spending watchdog has identified a £500m black hole in the plans by forces in England and Wales to meet the savings required, the pressure on chiefs to shed more officers and staff is even greater. Privately many have worries, and some may simply decide that, like Melville, they have had enough. |
| Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, has spoken out in the past, saying there is no question the cuts imposed as part of the government's austerity drive would lead to fewer officers. His rank-and-file officers, meanwhile, say they are "working well beyond maintainable limits" and are "stretched well beyond capacity". | Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, has spoken out in the past, saying there is no question the cuts imposed as part of the government's austerity drive would lead to fewer officers. His rank-and-file officers, meanwhile, say they are "working well beyond maintainable limits" and are "stretched well beyond capacity". |
| Devon and Cornwall's chief constable, Stephen Otter, has also voiced his concerns, warning that reducing the number of visible officers could cause crime rates to rise. | Devon and Cornwall's chief constable, Stephen Otter, has also voiced his concerns, warning that reducing the number of visible officers could cause crime rates to rise. |
| The Police Federation is planning to show its opposition to both the spending cuts and the Winsor Review of how police are recruited, assessed and paid, with a national march in London on 10 May. | The Police Federation is planning to show its opposition to both the spending cuts and the Winsor Review of how police are recruited, assessed and paid, with a national march in London on 10 May. |
| Paul McKeever, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said Melville's resignation did not surprise him. | Paul McKeever, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said Melville's resignation did not surprise him. |
| "[It] demonstrates the enormous difficulties and pressures being faced by police officers across the country during a time of radical, untested change within the service and drastic cuts to the police budget," he said. | "[It] demonstrates the enormous difficulties and pressures being faced by police officers across the country during a time of radical, untested change within the service and drastic cuts to the police budget," he said. |
| "It reflects the mood within the service and the views being expressed privately to us by many senior officers who are deeply concerned about the future of British policing. We share those very real concerns; enough is enough." | "It reflects the mood within the service and the views being expressed privately to us by many senior officers who are deeply concerned about the future of British policing. We share those very real concerns; enough is enough." |
| Melville first spoke out in January, stressing he was not against changes to policing, but warning that the combined pressure of both Home Office and local authority budget cuts had put his force on a "cliff edge". | Melville first spoke out in January, stressing he was not against changes to policing, but warning that the combined pressure of both Home Office and local authority budget cuts had put his force on a "cliff edge". |
| "We are cutting much, much deeper than was ever intended or required by the comprehensive spending review," he said, adding that less money would mean fewer frontline resources. | "We are cutting much, much deeper than was ever intended or required by the comprehensive spending review," he said, adding that less money would mean fewer frontline resources. |
| On Friday he went further with his criticism of police reform, saying the government's flagship policy of having elected police and crime commissioners was of grave concern. But his decision to quit rather than stay and fight suggests he feels no one is listening. | On Friday he went further with his criticism of police reform, saying the government's flagship policy of having elected police and crime commissioners was of grave concern. But his decision to quit rather than stay and fight suggests he feels no one is listening. |
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