Police numbers at ‘unacceptable’ low
High-profile incidents stretch force to limit
POLICE officer numbers in Leicestershire are at an “unacceptable” low, according to the body which represents the rank and file.
Leicestershire Police Federation said a series of high-profile crimes and other major incidents in the past few weeks had stretched officers to the limit.
The federation has previously warned that officers are feeling the strain of increased workloads as colleagues leave, chiefly because of retirement.
Even the ongoing recruitment of more than 100 new officers will not restore the force to full strength, according to Matt Robinson, secretary of Leicestershire Police Federation.
However, despite the reduction in the number of staff and officers, recorded crime in Leicestershire has fallen from approximately 100,000 offences a year a decade ago to fewer than 60,000 in the past year.
Writing in the Leicestershire Police Federation magazine, he said: “This column is being written after a tremendously busy few weeks for the organisation.
“Officers and staff colleagues have completed many extra hours dealing with incidents which have challenged the resilience in staffing across all areas.
“It has also, once again, highlighted the professionalism and effort that is given by all every time the uniform goes on and we come to work.
“I would like to pass on my thanks to everyone for keeping the wheel on over a difficult period.
“This brought to my mind that these were incidents happening on the streets and nothing to do with cyber-based crime.
“This has been the focus of attention and is often used to defend the lack of numbers on the streets.
“These were real handson events happening in real time that required some good old-fashioned response with ‘boots on the ground’ policing.
“Officer numbers, even with our present recruiting strategy, are at unacceptable levels given we need to react to these incidents quickly and efficiently and still provide the service to the rest of the residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“I would say this highlighted for the establishment to be looked at, rather than another shift pattern change review to juggle the same numbers.
“Should we have been so stretched with minimum cover? This is a question the Police Feder- ation will be asking in the aftermath of these events.”
In August, the force announced it was to hire 120 new officers following years in which recruitment had been largely frozen because of budget cuts.
Approximately, 40 of the posts are to be filled by existing Pcsos, volunteer special constables and other internal candidates.
However, the recruits will not return the force to the strength it enjoyed in 2009.
Then, it employed more than 2,300 officers.
By 2017, the force had previously predicted, it is expected to fall to approximately 1,800.
Announcing the recruitment drive in August, Assistant Chief Constable Phil Kay said: “It has become possible for us to increase our numbers and recruit officers to the force through good financial management, the support of the police and crime commissioner and an increase in funding.
“After a period of training these additional officers will be visible on the streets of Leicestershire and Rutland, serving our community and protecting it from harm.”
The Home Office has previously said overall crime rates were falling despite cuts in police budgets.