Cuts have been too deep, warns police chief
SERVICE to the public from police is “nowhere near where it needs to be”, a chief constable admitted yesterday, blaming austerity-driven budget cuts.
Mike Veale, the Cleveland Police chief, said he would not be showing the bravery his officers deserved if he did not speak out about the lack of resources they must cope with.
He urged the Government to help, saying: “My message is clear; give us the tools and we will do the job.”
He was speaking out after a BBC report showed that Hartlepool – a town served by the Cleveland force – has to manage with 10 patrol officers for a population of 90,000.
Local people were shown patrolling to prevent crime, while police drove people arrested in the town to Middlesbrough because the Hartlepool custody suite had been mothballed.
Mr Veale, previously the Wiltshire Police chief constable, praised the “utmost courage” his officers show daily.
After he moved to Cleveland, he urged his officers to be on the front foot against crime and promised to get rid of a culture of risk aversion.
But he said the role of policing had changed, with fewer “Bobbies” on the beat than in the past as officers were needed to investigate online crimes and detect murders and rapes.
He said: “These are complex issues and while simply crying ‘austerity’ is not good enough, no one in policing today can claim it isn’t a factor. Forces across the country, including Cleveland, are more efficient and more effective than ever before but despite this efficiency the service we are providing the public is nowhere near where it needs to be. I would not be exhibiting the courage that my officers and staff deserve if I ... continue with this commentary that things in policing are OK.
“They are not OK. The cuts created and caused by austerity are too deep and have gone on for too long... It is about time that trend was reversed so that we can protect our communities, protect the most vulnerable and protect everyday people ... with courage, kindness and compassion.
“My message is clear; give us the tools and we will do the job.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are on the front foot in engaging with the police and recognise the changing demands they are facing.
“There is £1billion more of public money going into policing than three years ago and the Home Secretary has been clear that he will prioritise police funding. As the Chancellor noted in the Budget, we will review police spending power at the provisional police funding settlement in December.”