Public backs policing during pandemic
29 October 2020
West Midlands Police Federation secretary Steve Grange has praised members’ efforts during the pandemic as new figures show a huge vote of confidence from the public.
Crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that between 90 and 92 per cent of adults were satisfied with the way local police were responding to the pandemic.
Steve said: “It’s been an unprecedented period for policing and has given us a lot of challenges but it’s one that our members have really stepped up to.
“They’ve worked with their communities to enforce the lockdown and to protect the public and key workers, and these figures show the respect they have from the public.
“They’re a real vote of confidence from the public that we’re doing a good job in difficult circumstances for everyone.”
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (TCSEW) figures found that more than two thirds of adults gave police a positive rating for the work they were doing in their local area. Around half said they were doing a good job and one fifth said they were doing an excellent job.
The new ONS figures also show that crime dropped by 16 per cent in the West Midlands Force area in April, May and June.
Victim-based crime fell dramatically with theft offences down 41 per cent, robbery down 43 per cent and shoplifting down 53 per cent.
However, public order offences went up by 35 per cent, and stalking and harassment was up 57 per cent.
Steve said: “Lockdown meant that in a lot of instances the opportunity to commit crimes was taken away, but our members continued to work tirelessly on the front-line to keep people safe and in carrying out targeted operations.
“It’s always positive to see crime figures come down, but we’re now seeing a return to pre-lockdown levels.
“And, with coronavirus restrictions still in place, it’s stretching our resources and increasing the pressure on our members. They continue to do a brilliant job in very challenging circumstances.”
John Apter, the national Federation chair, added: “The 12-month period this survey relates to was prior to and during the Covid lockdown, and it’s already been widely reported that crime fell during this time. Therefore, the results come as no surprise.
“Although crime fell during the pandemic the pressure on the police remained. Policing had to adapt to a situation unlike anything we had experienced before and continues to do so even as the national lockdown was lifted and crime returned to pre-lockdown levels. That pressure has increased with local lockdowns being rolled out and because of the additional challenges they bring to policing.
“It’s so good to see the vast majority of the public have positive views of the way my colleagues have responded to the pandemic. This is despite unfair coverage in certain sections of the media.
“Policing the pandemic has been incredibly challenging, and my colleagues have more than stepped up to do the best they could in the most difficult of circumstances. It’s clear the public have recognised this.
“Policing must retain this positive relationship with the community and work together. With multiple level restrictions coming into place in different parts of the country, the pandemic is certainly not over - and neither are the challenges to policing it has brought.”
