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Police Budget Scrutiny – October 2009 The SPF is working on its position relative to the financial situation facing the police service in Our fundamental position is that it is the first duty of any government to provide safety and security for the public. We therefore question the assertion that there must to be cuts in police funding. Where to cut is clearly a political decision and we urge these decision makers to give the police service the highest possible priority. With around 90% of police funding attributable to staffing costs any significant savings or cuts must inevitably focus on staff. It will come as no surprise to you that we seek to defend police officer numbers. Police Officer Numbers If there must be savings or cuts from police budgets, then under no circumstances should this impact on police officer numbers. Cutting police officer numbers in a recession would, in our view, be madness. In a recession anti-social behaviour and crime increases partly because people have more time on their hands and less money in their pockets. This can only result in increased calls for police services. We also recognise the poorer in our communities are more likely to be victims of crime than those better off; therefore cuts in police numbers will inevitably disproportionately affect those who need the service most. Last week we heard there had been a 2% drop in crime, drops of 2% in violent crime, 3% in sexual crimes, 9% in rapes and attempted rapes, and 7% in vandalism. Both Mr Aitken, the Convenor of the Committee and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice credited these figures to the increased numbers of police officers. We agree with their comments and believe it would be a travesty if we let this encouraging crime picture tarnish by reversing the upward trend in police numbers. Before the Home Affairs Select Committee (14 July 2009) Alan Johnson, Home Secretary said pressures on public spending and the continued need for efficiency savings were important issues but “must not hit frontline policing.” “That”, he said, “would be a hugely retrograde step.” We agree and so do the public. A recent Ipsos-MORI poll produced interesting results. When asked about the most important issues facing Again last week we had an example of well-resourced policing achieving great success in alleviating anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking, violence and vandalism in the Merkinch area of It seems very clear that the case for sustained police officer numbers is strong. It has public support. It has the support of the police at all levels of the service. We fully agree with Stephen House, Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, in his views that police officer numbers are vital and if staff cuts become inevitable then they must start with police support staff. Police support staff The police service could not operate efficiently or effectively without our support staff colleagues. We are of the view that the current make-up and demand within the police service in Between 1998 and 2008, police numbers rose by 9%, police support staff numbers rose by 56% - (HMICS Annual Report 2007-08). As the Committee members know, there are roughly 17,300 police officers and 7,300 police support staff in Non-staff issues We agree with Doug Cross, Director of Corporate Services, Tayside Police, that there are always opportunities to explore issues such as shared services, support functions, procurement of uniform/vehicles etc. However, we are not so convinced of the benefits of mobile data either in operational terms or in terms of time or future cash savings. As I explained at the top of this letter, we have not yet had the opportunity to finalise our positions on all of these issues, but we are looking at the following areas to establish if savings could be made in any or all of them:
The Barnett Formula Although not directly the issue at this time, we believe it is vital that we all understand the position of the police relative to the Barnett Formula. We all know that spending on public services in The police in
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