Rebuilding of police must be proper job

HAS there ever been a tougher time to be a police officer? Thirteen years of Tory rule have seen round after round of cuts.

Pay is low, conditions tough and morale at rock-bottom.

One thing that has never changed is the pressure of the job. Officers are exposed to some horrific experiences.

They are also required to make quick, life-or-death decisions in high-pressure situations.

Alongside this is the negative press that has grown up round them. The lid has been lifted on some officers’ bad behaviour.

With all the horrors going on, it’s important to remember the majority are doing their best.

But even those blameless officers feel tarnished. And public trust is shaken. It’s no wonder so many officers are struggling with their mental health.

Austerity

Today, we reveal the shocking scale of the crisis in our police forces. In 2012/13, 320,000 days were lost to mental health. Last year, it was more than 730,000.

Police forces saw a 30% cut in staffing numbers from 2010 to 2022, according to Home Office figures analysed by Labour.

The data showed there were 6,252 fewer frontline officers last year compared with 2010.

Officers are being stretched to breaking point. Steve Hartshorn, the head of the Police Federation, says the problems are down to austerity and budget cuts.

Labour say they will commit to more PCSOS. That’s a step in the right direction. But there’s more work to be done.

Alongside proper mental health provision, the fundamentals need to be repaired. That means a decent level of investment, better conditions, proper equipment.

And a rebuilding of the trust between the public and those who are there to protect them.