10 May Police cuts take their toll on stressed and over-worked officers
(Police car patrolling the streets of London. Photo Credit: Pexels)
Police officer admits that the Governments funding cuts have made it harder to respond to crime and has increased pressure on the job, reports Leanne Cresswell
Following the capitals recent spike in stabbings and acid attacks, Police Officers have been high in public demand. However, it appears that Officers are finding it difficult to respond to crime, as well as feeling pressure and stress, due to the Governments lack of funding for the force.
According to BBC Reality Check, between the years of 2010 and 2017, the cuts in police funding has fallen by 20% meaning that the UK and Wales have seen a loss in the number of officers that protect the streets.
Jess Thompson, who has been given another name to protect her identity, is a 22-year-old Metropolitan community support officer from London.
Officer Thompson, who has been working in the force for almost three years, believes that the Governments cuts have led to an increase in the amount of work that she is given, making it difficult to respond to crime in a quick and controllable way.
“We work really hard to try and prevent crimes and offenses, but the cut in the funding means that there aren’t enough officers to respond as quickly as we should. It’s got to the point where we take days to deal with crimes that should be responded to in an hour. I’ve also been assaulted a lot recently, and it’s mainly because there hasn’t been enough emergency assistance to help at the scene.
“It’s a shame. I enjoyed my job when I first started, but now I’m stressed and feel anxious when I get called to a scene. It’s not enjoyable when I am finishing hours later than I should, mainly because I am given double the amount of work, which cannot be completed in one shift. I feel like my job is out of control and it shouldn’t be this way.”
According to a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, 25 % of forces are struggling to meet emergency calls in the time that they should be expected to.
Thompson went on to explain why the government should listen and take action: “The government need to focus on the emergency services urgently, we’re the vital key part that acts towards a safe society. Crime is on the rise because our streets are filled with fewer officers. It needs to be recognised that even though we try our very best to respond to every call, we cannot be in two places at once, nor do we have a backup to help us.”
As shown in the graph above, September 2010 saw a total amount of 144,235 police officers in the UK and Wales. In contrast, there were 121,929 officers in September 2017, meaning that there has been a 22,306 decline in police officers over the years.
Deputy leader of Westminster Labour and Queens Park Councillor, Patricia McAllister, who has seen a rise in crime and deaths in Westminster commented: “There has been an increase in the number of deaths in young people which are all linked to violent acts such as stabbings.
Cllr, McAllister added: “We receive many complaints from the public regarding local policing cuts and how it has made them feel unsafe. Our officer’s work hard and are a credit to our country, the cuts to the budget must be stopped instantly.”
