Call to refocus on core policing backed by West’s crime czar

A leading police chief ’s call for a refocus on core policing has been welcomed by the South West’s crime czar.

Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said “over-stretched” forces should concentrate on burglary and violent crime rather than logging incidents such as misogyny where no offence has been committed.

Alison Hernandez, the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, said Ms Thornton had made some valid points.

Ms Hernandez said she agreed that while resources should be allocated to crimes like burglary she wanted to ensure all victims were taken seriously. She hailed the work done by her own force to tackle hate crime.

Shaun Sawyer, the Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Force, went further, saying he appreciated the debate Ms Thornton was trying encourage about resourcing and police priorities, “however the link to misogyny is unhelpful if it prevents victims of hate crime, in any form, from having confidence in reporting it to the police”.

‘These are measures that will help to free police officers up’

The backdrop to Ms Thornton’s comments was, he said, fuelled by her frustrations over police funding – “a view which I and many other Chief Constables share”.

Mr Sawyer said: “With 20,000 fewer officers since 2010 due to continuing government cuts to our budget, policing within the UK, including Devon and Cornwall does not have the resources to investigate all crimes equally, and decisions are having to be made on what we can and can’t put our resources into.

“This is alongside an unprecedented increase in the reporting of sexual offences, as well as new crime trends including digital crimes.

“The adage of ‘cuts have consequences’ remains true, and simply put we need greater funding from the Government to help us protect our communities, better.”

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw applauded Mr Sawyer’s “very good statement” in response to “very worrying comments” from Ms Thornton.

Meanwhile, Ms Hernandez said a 24-hour hotline for people who were mentally unwell, and the setting up of mental health ambulances – two announcements as part of this week’s Budget – were to be welcomed.

“These are precisely the kind of measures that will help to free police officers up at a time when forces are stretched,” she said.

Ms Hernandez added: “Police officers are not social workers or mental health workers yet spend far too much of their time dealing with issues that would be better handled by the NHS or local authorities.”

Alison Hernandez