Dominic Browne reports on the launch of an interactive map that shows you the extent of the coalition police cuts in your area.
The fallout from the government’s cuts to policing has been mapped out by the Labour party. The map shows how the 30,000 staff cuts, including 12,500 police officers, will be distributed throughout England and Wales. The worst hit areas are Greater Manchester, which will lose 2,944 jobs, and the Met, which will lose 2,337 jobs.
Despite the cuts David Cameron and the Conservatives have always insisted frontline staff would be protected. During the election he said:
“Any Cabinet minister, if we win the election, who comes to me and says ‘here are my plans and they involve front line reductions’ will be sent back to their department to go away and think again.”
However Left Foot Forward has highlighted just how frontline the cuts actually are. Using A19 orders the coalition government have forced experienced and uniquely skilled officers into retirement.
Many of these officers would fit with the recently created working definition of “frontline” (pdf) as provided by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, HMIC, after a freedom of information request laid bare the fact that the Home Office had no such definition in terms of policing to begin with.
Cameron was publicly chastised for his disingenuous law-and-order rhetoric following the leadership debates. The prime minister was subsequently challenged by the Met on his typical “form-fillers” jibes concerning so-called non “frontline staff”.
In fact the conservatives are using “boriseconomics” to justify cuts that go beyond what HMIC think could be done without compromising the service. The Police Federation have attacked the coalition cuts with a high profile campaign under the heading “Cuts are Criminal”.
The chairman of West Midlands police federation, PC Andy Gilbert, spoke to Left Foot Forward on the issue.
Mr Gilbert said
“The police federation are not a road block to reform. I think we are being pulled in very different directions. We have had lots of reports some contradictory.
“The cuts are right across every area of policing…We have officers who sit behind a desk who have very responsible demanding jobs… We need them to be fully operational.”
He has called for a Royal Commission to analyse and clarify the strategic future of the police force in the UK. He is supported by John Hemming Liberal Democrat member of parliament for Birmingham Yardly, who has tabled an early day motion for such a commission.
Mr Gilbert added that he thought the alternative Labour policy, accepting the HMIC recommendation and limiting police cuts to 12% rather thn 20%, “would have been sensible”.
He concluded:
“There is some science behind it, in that it’s a HMIC recommendation.”
Which is more than can be said for Mr Cameron’s unscientific division between so-called frontline and back office staff and the pretence that communities won’t feel the effect of the cuts on the streets.
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27 Responses to “The map that shows the frontline of the police cuts”
Will
Labour need to be careful if they’re going on the police angle.
Supporting the police, of course, a historical Tory policy. By doing this, Labour might pick up a few older people, like they did when going on an offensive against immigration, but it risks turning off younger progressives and liberals, especially if it looks like a support for tactics like kettling.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with supporting police work. Even the most Toriest of Tories agree we need protection from violence and from theft. But it could easily signal a “business as usual” policy in this area. And this is an area which needs change, especially as one of the Cornerstone Tories triggered a by-election because he thought then government policy was too authoritarian.
UNISONwmp
https://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/04/coalition-government-cuts-to-police-are-mapped-out/ http://fb.me/OWOXSCPs
Andrew Gibson
Supporting the police is a position broadly shared throughout all socio-economic strata in the UK. This is a good way to illustrate to people that quality public services requires high levels of spending. Also, wealthier people may not use public hospitals, schools and benefits but they certainly appreciate responsive police.
This is a win-win for Labour and I hope it becomes a theme in the local elections and beyond.
Stop Winsor
This is a true reflection of what the cuts will mean – please stop police staff cuts and erosion of pay conditions.
James Griffin
The Police are still being seen as a political football.
These are good, capable, competent Officers and staff that are being got rid of – to save money! That is reckless and irresponsible as it exposes the public to greater risk of becoming victims of crime or disorder. Less Police and staff on the streets and back office will reduce the capacity to protect and respond, detect and deter. What is the government response to issues about reduced numbers of Police on the streets – blame the national deficit and the previous government and state they have no choice! They do have a choice, Winsor in his first paragraph outlines the duty of state is to protect its people and the Police are the most import aspect of this!
The government claims that the frontline will be protected and chief constables claim that service can be maintained! Anyone who believes this is being naive.
On a matter as critical as ensuring an effective and efficient Police service – No MP should be obliged to follow their leaders’ position. There is now an urgent need for a Royal Commission on Policing. Make your voice known and lobby your MP.