Public awareness being raised by #CutsHaveConsequences

ESSEX Police Federation members are being encouraged to continue promoting the #CutsHaveConsequences campaign.

The three-month awareness campaign, launched in January, aims to provide the public with information about how they are being affected by the £72.5 million cuts to the policing budget. Mark Smith, Federation Chairman, (pictured) said he believes the campaign is going “very well” and has been “taken on by the public”. www.cutshaveconsequences.co.uk

The key message is: “You do not get more or even the same with less. You only get less.”

Mr Smith thanked officers for their efforts and urged them to keep sharing the campaign with friends and family.

The Chairman said he had noticed members of the public using the campaign’s hashtag – #CutsHaveConsequences – in comments below a news story involving crime and policing on the Essex Chronicle website.

“We are getting out there. We are telling people. I think we are actually reaching the public and they are starting to understand,” said Mr Smith.

“It’s how they act on that information now. We can only tell them. What they do with that information and knowledge is down to them. But we will continue to try to keep the momentum up until the end of March.”

Mr Smith said the Federation has “other things planned” and will keep “pushing” and do the best they can.

“I want to thank our members for what they have been doing to help us and I hope they will continue to work with us because we can’t do it on our own,” said Mr Smith.

“We need to tell the public that the officers are the ones that are out there struggling with demand. They are the ones who get moaned at by the public if they haven’t arrived somewhere quick enough or if the public hasn’t seen them for a number of days. Officers need to tell the public the truth.”