Government setting up overworked and exhausted officers to fail with new crime plan.

29 August 2023

Police must investigate every theft and follow all reasonable leads to catch offenders, the Home Secretary has said.But Sussex Police Federation has highlighted how colleagues are already overrun and exhausted.And this headline grabbing announcement will set Police Officers up to fail.

Raffaele Cioffi, Deputy Chair of Sussex Police Federation, said: "Of course, our hard-working police officers want to investigate every crime, they are the people who pick up the pieces and actually support victims of crime, that’s why they joined the Police.

“The uncomfortable truth is sadly they are already overrun and exhausted due to the mountain of paperwork and additional forms to fill in, spending up to four time longer in the police stations rather than out on the street catching criminals.

“What we all desperately need to see is a clear plan from the Home Office on how this will be delivered… funnily enough, there’s been no mention of this at all.

“Yet again we see another promise that - under the current structure - police officers know is unachievable. Home Secretary, deliver on your promise to reduce paperwork.

“Our officers deserve better, and so does the public.”

Steve Hartshorn, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said officers were "stretched beyond human limits" and he was not sure how much additional pressure forces could withstand.

He said: "Undoubtedly each and every police officer in the country wants to provide par excellence service to the members of the communities they diligently serve and protect.

"But, unfortunately, headline grabbing announcements by the government will not help officers provide that service. It can only be done if the government provides adequate resources to officers and makes sustained investment in the police service."