Neighbourhood policing is an ‘endangered species’ warns Federation chair
Neighbourhood policing is just one of a number of endangered species in the new policing landscape, the chair of the Police Federation has warned.
In a keynote speech addressing delegates and home secretary Theresa May at the Federation’s annual conference, Steve White described this form of policing as the ‘foundation of local confidence, trust and reassurances in communities’ and one that prevents terrorist attacks.
Yet, he insisted the approach was under serious threat as a result of the ‘new stream-lined barren policing landscape’.
“We know that 30 out of 43 forces are downgrading or reviewing their neighbourhood policing teams,” he said.
“Less than a third of people say they now see police officers on patrol in their local community. And it’s a figure that’s falling fast. A generation of young people is growing up never seeing their local police unless they are fortunate enough to experience a serious crime. Is that the type of police service the public deserve?”
However, the home secretary hit back at the ‘endangered species’ assertion and cautioned against ‘scaremongering’.
“It doesn’t serve you, it doesn’t serve the officers you represent, and it doesn’t serve the public,” she said.
The minister referred to warnings made by the Federation over the years about officers feeling ‘demoralised’ or ‘angry’. “The truth is that crime fell in each of those years, its fallen further since – and our country is safer than it has ever been,” she insisted.
“So please – for your own sake and for the thousands of police officers who work so hard every day – this crying wolf has to stop.”
May stated that the last five years had shown it was possible to do more with less and cited that crime had fallen, the frontline service had been protected, and public confidence in the police was up even though spending had reduced.
“It is perfectly possible to make savings without affecting the quality of neighbourhood policing,” she added.
