Brutal Tory cuts have left the police service at a tipping point – Louise Haigh

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister, responding to remarks made by Richard Foster the outgoing chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, said:

“Overwhelming demand and brutal Tory cuts have left the police service at a tipping point. The lack of resources and capacity is leading to severe failings in the criminal justice system, leaving victims without the service they deserve and risking wrongful convictions.

“The Tories have been warned time and again that there is a national crisis in the availability of detectives, but with crime and digital evidence soaring, they have done nothing. It's time they heeded the warnings of people like Richard Foster and gave the police the resources they need to investigate crime properly.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• ·         Richard Foster has highlighted that persistent systemic problems in the police and crown prosecution service have left people wrongfully convicted in prison: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/oct/11/failure-disclose-evidence-miscarriage-justice-warning-criminal-cases-review-commission

• ·         In his interview with the BBC Today programme (11/10/2018), Foster said: “Police are struggling because they haven’t got anything like, enough trained investigators to do the core job that they should be doing.”https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/m0000nd7

• ·         There is currently a shortfall of 5000 police investigators across England and Wales. One in five detective desks are empty or are filled with unqualified staff. Source: PEEL: police effectiveness 2017 (p.15), https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/peel-police-effectiveness-2017-1.pdf

• ·         Comments from Chief Constable Dave Thompson yesterday highlights that “Policing is at the tipping point” because of budget cuts and a “hands-off government approach” will have consequences for the public. Source: https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/chief-constable-dave-thompson-policing-is-at-the-tipping-point-and-weve-got-to-move-on-from-here

• ·         Furthermore, on employee pension contributions Chief Constable Sarah Thornton has written today:

“Treasury announcement a few weeks ago about changes to employee pension contributions means that forces in England and Wales may need to find an extra £417 million by 2020/21. This is equivalent to nearly 10,000 officers and grave concern was expressed about further reducing the sustainability of local police forces.”

Source: https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/police-chiefs-blog-cc-sara-thornton-chief-constables-council-october-2018