The other week, my wife - also a cop - sent me a message that she had received from an officer. The message started with ‘I’m tired, burnt out, angry, frustrated and feel like I’m being pulled from pillar to post’. 

Hearing these all-too-familiar words has driven me to publicly address a huge issue here at Hertfordshire Police. 

Since I became chair just over two years ago, the FCR has been an ongoing problem - the demand has increased and it doesn’t seem that we can recruit or retain enough police staff to perform those roles. In turn, this has seen wave after wave of officers being taken off the streets and placed into the FCR.

Recently, the Force has taken further action and would like to put more officers in the room, this is at odds with what our newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) spoke of during his campaign and something we have already raised with him.  

While the leaders and politicians keep coming out with ‘we have more officers than ever’ the reality is, demand has soared and officers are backfilling police staff roles. Plus, the reduction of PCSO numbers has put even more pressure on our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) - who are already falling over and are only NPTs in name but in reality an extension to response teams. Every morning, I hear chief inspectors bidding for more resources to support their towns - yet, they don’t all get them.

The danger of moving officers from the front line to the control room means that while we’ll be able to pick up the calls, we’ll have no officers to send to these jobs. Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in our job log numbers increasing, crimes not being progressed and offenders not being arrested quickly enough. Furthermore, victims are being let down - which is something that hugely impacts our members, who are tirelessly juggling log after log and not being able to progress crimes and support victims. 

Over the last two years, we have just - by hook or by crook - managed to limp through busy summer periods. But, with the demand that’s already started earlier this year, I’m not confident things will be any better as we once again prepare for summer - in fact, they will be worse.

While I recognise that the number of incoming calls into the control room is increasing - and therefore requires more heads to take those calls - we have raised our concerns as to how we’ve ended up in a position which means officers being placed into staff roles. So when you hear people say ‘we have more police officers than ever’, remember - many of those cops will be back-filling police staff roles.

Years of underfunding and the constant bad press police officers get have led to us being in this position. And how younger people view the job of a police officer is clearer than ever - too many see it as a job and not a career. Sadly, younger people are undoubtedly more content with walking away and seeking other employment.

It really is a tough time to be a cop and don’t let anyone tell you differently. From Specials to Chief Inspectors - and to be fair, the ranks we don’t represent - I know everyone is feeling the pressure. But please hear this: we are doing our bit. We are speaking out, we are using Reg 22 as a way to stop your shifts from changing and we continue to put pressure on the PCC and the Exec.

I just wish people would be honest with the public, and quite frankly, until we are, things won’t get any better. We will continue to bury our heads in the sand and pretend we’re all doing OK - while at the same time, we will be drowning. 

At a time when it’s harder than ever to be a police officer, my message to our members is this: look after yourself, put your health and wellbeing before the job and remember, if you ever need us - please shout.