‘Line of Duty’ police teams go up by 10%

STAFFING in police teams investigating complaints against officers has risen almost 10% in two years.

Professional standards departments, like those in TV drama Line of Duty, now have 1,895 staff, up from 1,731 in 2016.

At the same time staffing in the Major Crime unit, which investigates murders and rapes, fell from 2,768 to 2,614.

And in Serious and Organised Crime units, it fell from 2,270 to 2,224.

Phill Matthews, of the Police Federation, called the figures “disappointing”.

He said: “Resources could far better be moved back into the front line.”