The financial shortfall that the police face could be as high as £3.2 billion, the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) annual conference heard. Good policing costs money. Fund and resource us properly, PSA President Nick Smart urged the attending junior minister Diana Johnson.
He said: “Forces are trying their level best, but simply don’t have the money or resources to deliver what is needed.”
In his speech to the event, Mr Smart said he was disappointed that the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper did not attend to speak (she attended last year as shadow home secretary); nor did the Conservatives’ shadow home secretary attend.
Mr Smart described the three challenges as ‘resourcing, demand, and workforce well-being’. On well-being, he suggested that we ‘work on the presumption that officers will suffer trauma – and put the necessary provision and support in place for them to access help before it becomes overwhelming.’ He called for “a long-term funding formula that enables each chief constable to plan, and to strategically manage resources based on realistic funding. This must also be supported by wider investment in the ‘broken’ criminal justice system. You cannot inject funding into police without investing in the Crown Prosecution Service, the prison service and probation services.” For his address in full, visit the PSA website.
Dame Diana Johnson, the Crime and Policing Minister said: “Too many town centres and high streets across the country have been gripped by an epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting which is corroding our communities and cannot be allowed to continue.
“There are thousands of incredible police officers and support staff doing an admirable job. But we have to face the reality that there are still too many victims of anti-social behaviour who feel that when they call the police, no one listens and no one comes.
“Our neighbourhoods and police forces have suffered enough after a decade of decline, and this government will help restore neighbourhood policing, with skilled, resilient and dedicated local cops.
“Every community deserves local officers who understand what is needed to keep them safe, and with this new training and our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we will deliver the change our towns and villages are desperate for.”
She set out a Neighbourhood Policing Pathway, which is being trialled by numerous police forces, to finish at the end of March 2025 before national roll-out; as training for neighbourhood police or community support officers (PCSOs) covering such crimes as drug dealing and anti-social behaviour such as on-street drinking. For her speech in full, visit the Home Office website.
