Even though there has been a sharp rise in recorded crime, the Home Office has stated that there is no extra funding in a decision that will surprise approximately: no-one.
The actual number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen by just over 1200 in six months and is now 16% below its 2009 peak, official figures have shown.
The most recent Home Office statistics put the number of officers in the 43 police forces in England and Wales as of 30 September last year at 121,929, down from 123,142 on 31 March last year and from 144,353 in 2009.
And this is at a time, when the threat from domestic terrorism has rarely been higher than what it is now. Let us not forget the three tragic events which happened only last year.
And let us not forget, the amount of plots which have been foiled by the UK’s security services – considered to be amongst the best in the world by many law enforcement agencies based outside of the UK.
In evidence submitted to the police remuneration review body last week, the Home Office made it absolutely clear, that no more central funding would be available, describing the recruitment and retention of officers as “stable”.
I am assuming therefore, that no one from the Home Office has actually spent any of their time alongside Officers who are actually on the #ThinBlueLine.
Because, if they had, then they would see the pages and pages of ‘I’ grade emergency calls which stack up during a typical late turn or nightshift. They would also then get an idea, as to the amount of people wanting to leave the Police Force.
My former Force, The Metropolitan police, accounted for more than half of the fall in officers, with 646 fewer in September last year than in March.
I am still a member of quite a few ‘chat’ Groups that have many of my former colleagues in (who are still serving). And the general consensus is that morale has never been lower.
But ‘morale’ is something that the Government, not just this one, but successive Governments, take ZERO interest in.
Why? Because even though they are in charge, they have no idea as to the actual challenges which are faced by those on the front line.
Written by Cop(ex). ‘Chief Admin’ of Emergency Services Humour on Facebook, and a regular contributor to our satirical fortnightly digital magazine, S__ts & Giggles.
Our digital magazine contains all of the funniest material which we get sent, including blogs and stories from around the world, but that which we do not share on social media. CLICK HERE to find out more.
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