Forces 'rise to cuts challenge'

Police forces in England and Wales have risen to the challenge posed by cuts to funding, according to a report.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found forces have cut £2.5bn from their budgets over the last four years, with just three being told they need to do better.

But the report raised "growing concerns" about the number of local police on the beat.

The Police Federation said cuts were "damaging the police service."

'Good reaction'

From the 43 forces in England and Wales, five were judged to have had an "outstanding" response to budget cuts covering the period between 2011/12 and 2014/15. A further 35 were categorised as "good".

Just three - Bedfordshire, Gwent and Nottinghamshire - were told they required improvement, the report said.

The number of police officers dealing with the public directly is falling 8%, the report found. But the number of back-room staff is dropping faster and HMIC concluded the front line was being protected.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said: "Police forces in England and Wales are to be congratulated.

"The vast majority have risen to and met the considerable challenge of austerity, with plans in place to save over £2.5bn over the last four years - while protecting the front line as best they can and making sure that the public still receive as an effective service."

Forces at risk

However, the watchdog warned that the public had noticed cuts to neighbourhood police.

More than one in three people (36%) said they had seen fewer police on patrol in the past year.

HMIC warned that smaller forces could find themselves unable to respond to "unexpected events".

And it said the future of some forces could be at risk in the next three to five years.

The best and worst performing forces

Outstanding:

• Avon and Somerset
• Norfolk
• Lancashire
• Staffordshire
• West Midlands

Requiring improvement:

• Bedfordshire
• Gwent
• Nottinghamshire

Ms Billingham added: "Continuing to apply the cost reductions in the same way in the next four years as they've been applied in these four years is not an option, and we're very clear that the viability of some forces could be placed in jeopardy in three to five years' time.

"By that we mean they would have to cut too hard and too deep into neighbourhood policing and they may not be able to guarantee or maintain the service that we're currently seeing to the public."

Front line

Overall, the number of police will have dropped by 16,300 (11%) between March 2010 and March 2015, the report said.

In the same period, the number of staff will fall 14,500 (17%) and the number of police community support officers will be reduced by 3,600 (22%).

By March 2015, there will be 8,500 (7%) fewer officers on the front line.

But forces have said the proportion on the front line will be greater, rising from 89% to 92%.

Steve White, Chairman of the Police Federation, said: "The report provides clear evidence that cuts are damaging the police service and officers' capacity to keep the public safe."

He added: "It is essential that action is taken on the points the report raised, in particular addressing the potential erosion of neighbourhood policing and crime prevention due to reductions to the front line."

Forces 'rise to cuts challenge'

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