Coalition law and order spending cuts ‘pushing police to breaking point’

7.tifThe Coalition government’s budget restraints and spending cuts are pushing the police to the brink of crisis, according to the Police Federation of England and Wales.

A new report has revealed spending on law and order has dropped and police officer numbers are down in the years since the launch of the Coalition government.

The UK Justice Police Review from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies highlights that the government spent £32.3 billion on public order and safety in 2011/12, compared to £36 billion in 2009/10 before the Coalition came to power.

Police officer numbers were also found to have dropped by seven per cent in England and Wales in the two years since the Coalition, while they were down nine per cent in Northern Ireland and only numbers in Scotland were largely unaffected.

The Police Federation, which represents 124,000 police officers throughout the UK, claims the spending cuts and drops in police numbers are detrimental to public safety.

It added those within the Force are already feeling disillusioned and facing more challenges in the coming years under the Coalition.

Steve White, Vice-Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told SecurityNewsDesk: “The current government’s policing reforms and disproportionate spending cuts are ill-conceived, unnecessarily severe and not in the interests of the safety of the general public.

“The budget constraints, combined with a rapid drop in police officer numbers, have left our members at breaking point. They are demoralised, furious and struggling to carry out the job they signed up for.”

The report outlined that the 10% spending drop on law and order between 2009/10 and 2011/12 was a marked increase in comparison to the 1.4% drop in total UK public sector spending during the same period.

Richard Garside, director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies and co-author of the report, claims the Coalition seems intent on “delivering several years of famine” for the police and criminal justice system.

He added: “The coalition’s second year was a period of major conflict with the police rank and file; U-turns on sentencing reform; riots in the streets and division within the government.

“Reform and good governance proved much harder in an era of austerity than in the previous period of relative plenty.”

Georgina Turner image

Georgina Turner

Sales Manager

Read the Latest Issue

Follow us on X

Follow us on X

Click Here

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Click Here

Advertise here

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise here

Click Here

Related News

Graphic displaying a lockdown solution

Netgenium debuts next gen display and touchscreen technologies

Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) solutions specialist Netgenium will be showcasing its new range of IP…

ICT® Launches New TSL Access Reader Series

Integrated Control Technology (ICT®), a leading manufacturer of intelligent access control and…
Image Provided by Paxton

Paxton Partners with Skills for Security

The security technology manufacturer Paxton is proud to announce a partnership with Skills for Security…
Image Provided by ICT

ICT and Ingram Micro sign distribution agreement MEA

Integrated Control Technology (ICT), award-winning global manufacturer of intelligent electronic access control and security solutions..
Image Provided by Toshiba

Toshiba launches new HDD Innovation Lab

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (Toshiba) has inaugurated a new HDD Innovation Laboratory (HDD Innovation Lab) at its site in Düsseldorf..
Image Provided by Verkada

Verkada Doubles Down on the Channel with Strategic New Hire

Verkada, a leader in cloud-based physical security, today announced the appointment of Micah Deriso as Head of Global Channel…
Image Provided by IPSA

IPSA Appoint Frontline Hero as Ambassador

Abdullah, the courageous security officer praised for foiling a horrific knife attack at Leicester Square, has been appointed as…
Image Provided by Codelocks

New Surface Latch from Codelocks

Codelocks is expanding its Gate Solutions by Codelocks range with the introduction of the new Codelocks’ Surface Latch…
Image provided by Genetec

Nicholas Smith to Lead Genetec UK and Ireland Operations

Genetec, provider of enterprise physical security software, announced the appointment of Nicholas Smith as its new Regional Sales Director…

News Desk

View all the latest, product, project and people news

News Desk

Click Here

Technology News

Keep up-to-date with the latest product innovation

Technology News

Click Here

Industry Sectors

Discover technology in action in all applications

Industry Sectors

Click Here

Enter The Awards

Showcase personal or organisation excellence

Advertise With Us

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise With Us

Click Here
Scroll to Top