Government squeeze is denting public’s confidence in policing

THE public’s ‘dented’ confidence in policing is entirely down to the squeeze the current Government continues to exert on policing, says Essex Police Federation.

A recent report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee revealed that public confidence in the police had taken a blow due to cuts forcing crimes to be prioritised.

It also accused the Home Office of not understanding policing and said that the way the service is funded needs an ‘urgent’ overhaul.

“It’s down to the Government’s inability to listen, its apparent lack of interest,” Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said.

“They just stick to their lines that crime isn’t rising. It’s just all a joke and they’re kidding no one and offending everyone. I’m not surprised the Accounts Committee have said that confidence in policing is at rock bottom.

“Maybe that’s because the public have a better understanding of crime that the Government do.”

Steve added that the current police funding formula is ‘desperately’ unfair.

“Essex isn’t dealt the best hand by that funding formula,” he said.

“And at the same time, they tie our hands when it comes to raising funds locally with the precept cap which is just ridiculous.

“They suggest local autonomy and local control around police budgets and yet hamstring any efforts to exercise that. It’s ridiculous.

“We thought it was getting better and then the pension thing was mandated.

“That’s a self-created burden because of the government actuaries. Why don’t the ministers and officials in the Home Office just change the rules of the actuary?

“And they’ve imposed it on the police service which isn’t allowed to run a negative budget, whereas the health service frequently post a negative budget because they know the Government will bail them out. £20 billion this year, £20 billion next, who knows?

“It’s another kick in the ‘final impact’ areas as we call it in the police.”