Government’s lack of investment in policing is “appalling”

NORTHUMBRIA Police Federation has hit out at the Government’s “appalling” lack of investment in the Police Service after the Autumn Budget left Forces out in the cold.

Chancellor Philip Hammond made no mention of police funding during his 70-minute long speech to Parliament last month, leaving frontline Police Officers and Chiefs alike astounded and angry.

Jim Gray, Chairman of Northumbria Police Federation, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the Government’s arrogance and condemned ministers for not listening to words of warning from the front line.

He said: “It just shows where we, the Police, those who stand up for what is right and protect the vulnerable, stand in the scheme of things; how the Government judges our importance, or not. We weren’t even mentioned as an issue at a time when we are facing serious challenges, a significant rise in recorded crime and an unprecedented threat from terrorism.

“The continued lack of investment in the Police is beyond belief. I know that Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners across the country will have their heads in their hands – thinking ‘what can they do with ever diminishing budgets?’”

Northumbria is in dire need of appropriate funding after it has lost more than 900 police officers since the cuts began in 2010.

“The fact that the Government fails to see the damage this it is doing to the service we are able to provide to the public is appalling,” Jim added.

Last month, Amber Rudd hit out at Chief Constables requesting more cash, saying they should be fighting crime, not writing press releases asking for more money.

Jim said: “When Chief Constables eventually joined the debate, you would have thought that ministers would have sat up and listened. It was no longer just the Federation telling them that ‘cuts have consequences’, but senior officers, our police leaders.

“Sadly, I think the Government’s continuing arrogance is there to see, and the comments of the Home Secretary are what they are. In her view we should know our place, just keep our mouths shut, and make do with ever decreasing real terms budgets. Well, it is totally unacceptable, not just for us as Police Officers and as a Police Service, but also for the public, for the communities we serve, and we as a Police Federation will continue to highlight this.

“Their lack of regard or concern about what Police Officers, of any standing say, are saying about the real challenges and consequences as a result of the lack of financial support for policing in our country is shameful”.