Poll backs up Federation’s fears on neighbourhood policing

16 July 2018

A national newspaper survey shows that the public see the link between falling numbers of police officers and rising levels of crime, according to Leicestershire Police Federation chair Tiff Lynch.

Tiff has spoken out after a poll carried out on behalf of the Daily Mail revealed:

• 57 per cent of respondents felt the police had lost control of neighbourhoods and criminals had no fear of being caught
• 25 per cent do not feel safe in their local area at night
• 60 per cent had not seen a police officer in their street in the past year
• 76 per cent want more officers on the beat.

“I don’t think anyone in policing is particularly surprised by the results of this poll,” says Tiff, “The Police Federation has long argued that the Government’s cuts programmes would have consequences in terms of the effectiveness of the police service.

“With reduced numbers, it’s no surprise that officers are struggling to provide the type of police service our communities deserve. Decreasing numbers on the frontline mean those officers within neighbourhoods and specialist positions are now having to backfill during times of high demand taking them away from their primary role.

“The Chief Constable and our Police and Crime Commissioner are doing all they can to invest in neighbourhood policing but they are clearly restricted by the funds available to them.

“They want to get bobbies out on their beat, working with their communities, fighting crime, tackling anti-social behaviour, gathering intelligence and providing a deterrent to criminals but it is increasingly difficult for us to do that with all the other demands placed upon the Force.”

The Police Federation’s national operational policing lead, Simon Kempton, has echoed Tiff’s views, saying: “Neighbourhood policing which was once a key feature of every community has all but vanished. Local bobbies who once would have been a familiar sight on the streets of the UK are being re-deployed to emergency response teams to meet the increasing demand facing policing.

“What is already clear is that greater investment – both monetary and in terms of personnel – is needed to put the boots back on the ground.”