Thread: 16,000 Frontline UK Police Officers Could Be Axed

16,000 frontline police officers could be axed in government cuts

A government cut in police funding will see 16,000 frontline officers axed with neighbourhood teams worst affected, according to a study.


Dr Brain predicts a total of 16,000 frontline posts could be lost - which is around the same number of officers called in to deal with the unrest in London last week Photo: PA/Anthony Devlin

By Matthew Holehouse
5:45PM BST 15 Aug 2011
284 Comments

The report by Cardiff's Universities Police Science Institute states the Government grant for local policing will fall by £1.36 billion, or 14 per cent, over the next four years.

Its author Dr Timothy Brain, the former Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, challenged claims by ministers that the cuts can be largely absorbed by ''back office'' efficiency savings with little impact on frontline services.

He expressed concern over whether police forces will be able to effectively tackle future disturbances on the scale of last week's riots in England.

Dr Brain predicts a total of 16,000 frontline posts could be lost - which is around the same number of officers called in to deal with the unrest in London last week.

Dr Brain said: ''Ministers expect the brunt of such losses to fall in the so-called back office, but with as many as 16,000 police officer posts going, there is little prospect of the frontline being unaffected.

''Coincidentally, 16,000 officers were needed to restore order to the streets of London last week.''

His report emerged as relations between the police and the Government sank to a new low, with officers and senior Conservatives publicly criticising one another over last week’s riots across England.

In an escalating war of words, one chief constable had warned that David Cameron risks losing the support of the police. Three other police chiefs also openly questioned the Prime Minister’s approach to law and order.

Conservative politicians hit back by branding the police “out of touchâ€

1. When your broke your broke and you have lame brain politicians that give out a billion a year in housing alone to Immigrants; this is the end result; core services CUT.

2. I woundnt advise taking in more Impovereshed Immigrants as you seen what the effect was with the riots

3. Fire all of your GLOBALIST Politicians and clean house... it's the only chance you got