Far reaching reductions mean officers will be more in demand, predicts GMP Chief

Concern is mounting that deep cuts to the funding of the Police Service from central government will be compounded by similar reductions to other agencies.

In an interview, CC Peter Fahy of Greater Manchester Police, maintained that the coming two years promised to be a challenging time. And he warned that senior officers would have to work hard to meet public expectations.

As previously reported on Police Oracle, the HMIC Adapting to Austerity Report highlighted that police numbers are set to return to levels last seen a decade ago following the cuts.
¬We are continuing to see a reduction in crime and getting good results. But it is hard to talk about being pleased with the pain of the budget reductions¬
On average, police authorities and forces are planning for cuts of 14 per cent by 2014/15 – equating to a workforce reduction of 16,200 officers, 1,800 PCSOs and 16,100 police staff.

CC Fahy told PoliceOracle.com he was increasingly concerned about the impact of cuts, particularly as they are being made in tandem with reductions in other areas.

He added: “I am more and more conscious the police are the glue in society.

“I am also conscious of the fact that there is a big gap between what the public think we can do and what we actually do – we deal with a lot more than crime.”

CC Fahy pointed out that there were issues around mental health and young people in which officers often became involved – and he predicted that this could increase as charities and other organisations had their budgets cut.

He added: “For example, more and more elderly people are being cared for in their home, which is great, but when they are confused the police are the service of last resort.

“I think that this is an area of work that is likely to grow as we move forward.”

CC Fahy said that his own Force – covering one of the UK’s busiest metropolitan areas – was experiencing a difficult time as reductions were made.

He said: “We are continuing to see a reduction in crime and getting good results. But it is hard to talk about being pleased with the pain of the budget reductions.

“There are some really difficult human decisions that we have had to make – coping with the reorganisation is already challenging and I am concerned about the longer term impact of the wider cuts throughout society.”