Chair of Police Federation attacks outdated police structure and inconsistent budget plans

The Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales has asked for a national public debate on what the police should now be doing and how it should be funded in the years to come.

Steve White wants a fundamental restructure of the current 43 forces that make up the police service and a commitment from Government for sustained finances so that Police Commissioners can plan ahead.

Speaking on BBC News, 18/09/15, Steve White said: “It’s nonsense that we have 43 different forces and as many ways again of doing the same job.”

“We need consistency and reliability to do our job, but all we are offered is pointless change for change sake, while the elephant in the room- too many cooks, or should I say too many Crime Commissioners and too many forces- is ignored.”

 “The Public Accounts Committee report into the state of financing policing tells us a lot about how bad things have become. Budgets are still being butchered and we are told that forces have to cut their cloth differently every few months. We need stability and sensible reform, not the constant threat of less money, officers and resources.”

“The Telegraph is now asking whether we should have a Royal Commission on policing and others, from the Times to the Mirror, question whether things can continue as they are.”

“For a public emergency service to be treated like this is shocking. We need a proper and open public debate about how we fund the police and what people can expect from it in the future.”