Policing facing 'perfect storm', warns senior officer
2 min read
Policing in England and Wales is facing a "perfect storm" due to budget cuts, a senior officer will tell ministers today.
Gavin Thomas, the president of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, will warn that the service is under-resourced to cope with both new threats and a rise in "traditional" crime.
A survey of his organisation's membership found that more than one in four (27%) superintendents did not think they had adequate resources to do their job properly.
A similar number said they had exhibited signs of depression due to work-related stress.
Ch Supt Thomas will tell the association's annual conference today: "I suggest we have a perfect storm developing, comprised of fewer resources, reduced public services, new threats, and a worrying increase in some types of traditional crime.
"If the model for delivering policing services in the future is fewer people, working longer, each doing ever more, then I suggest that model is fundamentally flawed."
The event will also be attended by Home Office minister Nick Hurd, who will deliver a speech on how the Government is supporting officers' mental health.
"We know that policing, by its nature, can be a stressful and challenging job," Mr Hurd will say.
"So it's important that the government acts too when and where we can add value.
"In July, the home secretary awarded £7.5m of funding from the Police Transformation Fund over three years to pilot and - if it is successful - fund a dedicated national service to help provide enhanced welfare support, for any officer or member of staff who needs it."
