TRAFFIC police officer numbers dropped by 13% in England over four years, according to research by road safety charity Brake.<\/p>\n
On average, traffic police in Scotland increased by four per cent, while numbers were down by 31 per cent in Wales.\u00a0Brake published the information after submitting Freedom of Information requests to forces across Britain. Essex Police was one of five forces that did not provide complete responses.<\/p>\n
Brake said the cuts are leaving some parts of the country \u201cdangerously short\u201d for vital frontline roads policing, with some forces suffering up to 40 per cent reductions.<\/p>\n
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, said: \u201cRoads police officers do a vital job enforcing important safety laws and protecting the public \u2013 their work is proven to save lives and prevent injuries and suffering. Cutting traffic police is a false economy, because the crashes and casualties they help to prevent inflict such devastation and are a huge drain on public services.\u201d<\/p>\n
The charity has called on government to \u201cact to stem these severe cuts to life-saving traffic policing\u201d.<\/p>\n
ACPO has claimed the figures are \u201cmisleading\u201d because the terminology does not cover all roads policing resources.<\/p>\n
Suzette Davenport, chief constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary and national lead for roads policing, said: \u201cEvery Chief Constable has had to make difficult decisions due to the financial cuts imposed on the police service. No area of policing has been immune.\u201d<\/p>\n
She pointed to a reduction in the number of people killed in road accidents and said: \u201cWe remain absolutely determined to make our roads as safe as they can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the Police Federation of England and Wales has repeatedly raised concerns about the falling numbers of dedicated traffic police officers, arguing that budget cuts are having a \u201csevere impact on roads policing\u201d.<\/p>\n
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