Counter-terrorism and the crisis in policing
sir – Policing is in crisis (report, September 11) because a hugely expensive counter-terrorist body has been created on the back of existing police budgets and manpower, leaving no funding for anything else.
Thirty years ago police chiefs were terrified that a separate continentalstyle gendarmerie would be set up to counter the rising terrorist threat, and fought to protect their patches. At the time, this meant that traditional bobbies were asked to do a job for which they were not recruited, suited or trained. However, this was the choice the police chiefs made, and we are now paying the price.
The solution is simple: separate counter-terrorism work from other policing. Bryan Clark
Ludlow, Shropshire
sir – The crisis in policing is entirely the creation of Theresa May.
I was serving in the Metropolitan Police in 2010, when she became home secretary and immediately cut police budgets. Her flawed reforms included a threat to legislate unless use of stop-and-search was reduced; the introduction of a 28-day restriction on police bail; the formation of the College of Policing; and the creation of police and crime commissioners.
Meanwhile, as crime began to rise, Mrs May blamed police chiefs for not using their resources wisely. Since the Conservatives have been in office, further budget cuts have resulted in the loss of almost 22,000 police officers and the closure of a third of police stations. Neighbourhood policing has disappeared and very little proactive police work is conducted.
This situation has been exacerbated by increased demand caused by cuts to other services, such as mental health. Officers are working extremely long hours, with intolerable workloads. Theresa May should be embarrassed at her decimation of the finest police force in the world. Clifford Baxter
Wareham, Dorset
sir – The Government’s prime concern should always be for our safety and well-being. The huge drop in police numbers is causing considerable harm to communities. People are losing faith in the police’s ability to investigate crime and to bring criminals to justice.
Let’s forget about HS2 and put the funds into providing a service that works, before anarchy arrives. Paul Caruana
Truro, Cornwall