Police cuts putting us in greater danger say public

The organisation representing rank and file officers across the county says the YouGov survey has confirmed its view that frontline services are being affected and the police effectively dismantled.

Police forces across the country have had around 20 per cent slashed from their budgets by the Home Office, while there is growing concern among chief constables that more cuts will be demanded in the next comprehensive spending review period beyond 2015.

Now the latest survey has revealed 70 per cent believe frontline police services have been affected by cuts to police funding, a figure that increased to 74 per cent for the north of England

Meanwhile 76 per cent of those surveyed believe the cuts in police officer numbers will put the public at greater risk, a figure that increased to 77 per cent for the North of England.

Mark Botham, chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “Government Ministers keep trying to convince the public that the cuts are not affecting the front line and that, even with significantly reduced numbers, the police can continue to provide an effective service.

“But this survey confirms the majority of the public agree with what the Police Federation has been saying all along – the front 
line is being affected.

“The public understands what we are saying and are rightly concerned. Yet the Government is still intent on denying this is the case.

“We expect to take our share of the necessary public spending cuts, but the additional reductions we are facing are having an impact on our ability to deliver the level of service the public expects. Our members are concerned the cuts are putting the public at risk and now we know that the majority of the public share their concerns.”

The YouGov poll of 2,916 adults in England and Wales, also revealed more than 60 per cent of those surveyed have little or no trust in Home Secretary Theresa May or David Cameron to be able to deliver an effective police service.

The highest level of trust, at 63 per cent, was for Chief Constables, while those with faith in the controversial new incoming Police Crime Commissioners scored just 39 per cent.

Last month, on the anniversary of the 2011 riots, Sir Norman Bettison, the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, said he had serious concerns that further cuts could result in the police not being able to contain similar violence in the future.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The independent inspectorate has shown that forces are delivering more for less, increasing neighbourhood policing, improving the service for the public, and cutting crime.

“We are sweeping away central targets, bureaucracy and red tape so forces can focus resources on the front line and concentrate on their one core mission – to cut crime.”