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| Devon and Cornwall police fear cuts will put officers and public at risk | Devon and Cornwall police fear cuts will put officers and public at risk |
| (9 months later) | |
| Police officers in Devon and Cornwall are alarmed – but not surprised – that their force has been highlighted as one of those that may not be able to provide an effective service. | Police officers in Devon and Cornwall are alarmed – but not surprised – that their force has been highlighted as one of those that may not be able to provide an effective service. |
| There has been growing concern over the past two years that cuts in police numbers are leaving officers and members of the public exposed. The crime rate is up and some restructuring, such as the loss of traffic patrols, has been unpopular with officers and the public. | There has been growing concern over the past two years that cuts in police numbers are leaving officers and members of the public exposed. The crime rate is up and some restructuring, such as the loss of traffic patrols, has been unpopular with officers and the public. |
| Devon and Cornwall plans to cut 990 posts by 2015 to save £51m. Of these, 620 are police officers, a reduction of 17%, compared with 10% across England and Wales. | Devon and Cornwall plans to cut 990 posts by 2015 to save £51m. Of these, 620 are police officers, a reduction of 17%, compared with 10% across England and Wales. |
| According to the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report, the number of officers, police and community support officers and staff members on the force's frontline will fall from 4,250 in March 2010 to an estimated 3,790 by March 2015. The number of police officers on the frontline will drop from 3,020 to an estimated 2,490 over the same period. | According to the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report, the number of officers, police and community support officers and staff members on the force's frontline will fall from 4,250 in March 2010 to an estimated 3,790 by March 2015. The number of police officers on the frontline will drop from 3,020 to an estimated 2,490 over the same period. |
| Critics of the cuts and the way they are being implemented in Devon and Cornwall are alarmed by an increase in the crime rate flagged up in the HMIC report. | Critics of the cuts and the way they are being implemented in Devon and Cornwall are alarmed by an increase in the crime rate flagged up in the HMIC report. |
| It says that recorded crime was up by 3% for the year ending December 2011 compared with December 2010, whereas across England and Wales there was a 3% fall. Robbery was up by 12% and burglary by 11%. | It says that recorded crime was up by 3% for the year ending December 2011 compared with December 2010, whereas across England and Wales there was a 3% fall. Robbery was up by 12% and burglary by 11%. |
| Nigel Rabbitts, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, claimed the increase in crime was a direct result of the cuts that had already been made. "The government's own watchdog is saying what we've been saying for the last two years: that if you reduce the spending centrally on a large rural police force then the impact will be on frontline service." | Nigel Rabbitts, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, claimed the increase in crime was a direct result of the cuts that had already been made. "The government's own watchdog is saying what we've been saying for the last two years: that if you reduce the spending centrally on a large rural police force then the impact will be on frontline service." |
| Rabbitts said that by 2015 the force would be one of the "sparsest" anywhere in Europe. "Morale is really low. Officers come to work to do the best job they can but if they haven't got the right tools and haven't got officers to support them they are fearful for the public's safety and their own safety. That is being exaggerated now every day, every day there are fewer officers." | Rabbitts said that by 2015 the force would be one of the "sparsest" anywhere in Europe. "Morale is really low. Officers come to work to do the best job they can but if they haven't got the right tools and haven't got officers to support them they are fearful for the public's safety and their own safety. That is being exaggerated now every day, every day there are fewer officers." |
| The Devon and Cornwall force covers the largest geographical police area in England, stretching 180 miles from the borders with Dorset and Somerset to the Isles of Scilly. Its patch includes the cities of Exeter and Plymouth, resorts such as Torquay and Newquay, and a large rural population. The area's population is around 1.5 million, but rises to eight million including visitors in the summer. | The Devon and Cornwall force covers the largest geographical police area in England, stretching 180 miles from the borders with Dorset and Somerset to the Isles of Scilly. Its patch includes the cities of Exeter and Plymouth, resorts such as Torquay and Newquay, and a large rural population. The area's population is around 1.5 million, but rises to eight million including visitors in the summer. |
| Rabbitts said: "I think the government has got it really wrong with the way it calculates funding of certain forces. It's a bit rich for the government to say they want to devolve power to local communities but don't give any funding and cap the ability to raise funding locally. | Rabbitts said: "I think the government has got it really wrong with the way it calculates funding of certain forces. It's a bit rich for the government to say they want to devolve power to local communities but don't give any funding and cap the ability to raise funding locally. |
| "We're not calling for a rise in taxes. I think the way the funding of large rural forces is calculated needs to be looked at. There needs to be an acceptance that large geographical forces need some extra funding so they can maintain service levels and attack crime and drive crime down rather than just fire brigade it." | "We're not calling for a rise in taxes. I think the way the funding of large rural forces is calculated needs to be looked at. There needs to be an acceptance that large geographical forces need some extra funding so they can maintain service levels and attack crime and drive crime down rather than just fire brigade it." |
| The Police Federation and some road safety campaigners have expressed concern at a reduction in the number of traffic officers in the area. The Western Morning News claims there were 32 deaths on the roads of Devon and Cornwall in the first six months of this year, compared with a 12-month average of 50 deaths in the past two years. | The Police Federation and some road safety campaigners have expressed concern at a reduction in the number of traffic officers in the area. The Western Morning News claims there were 32 deaths on the roads of Devon and Cornwall in the first six months of this year, compared with a 12-month average of 50 deaths in the past two years. |
| According to HMIC there have been some positive developments. The force is working to replace IT systems with more efficient versions. It is also collaborating on a regional level with neighbouring forces to tackle serious and organised crime. | According to HMIC there have been some positive developments. The force is working to replace IT systems with more efficient versions. It is also collaborating on a regional level with neighbouring forces to tackle serious and organised crime. |
| The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, Shaun Sawyer, said protecting frontline services remained a key aim. | The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, Shaun Sawyer, said protecting frontline services remained a key aim. |
| He queried HMIC's definition of "frontline", insisting: "I believe the HMIC frontline definition no longer captures the ways in which this force has redesigned itself to improve both service and efficiency. | He queried HMIC's definition of "frontline", insisting: "I believe the HMIC frontline definition no longer captures the ways in which this force has redesigned itself to improve both service and efficiency. |
| "For example, HMIC determine an investigating officer to be only partially frontline, whilst a response officer is considered fully frontline. In the case of investigators, which are driving the numbers in this calculation, we consider these roles are dedicated crime fighters and fully frontline." | "For example, HMIC determine an investigating officer to be only partially frontline, whilst a response officer is considered fully frontline. In the case of investigators, which are driving the numbers in this calculation, we consider these roles are dedicated crime fighters and fully frontline." |
| Sawyer accepted there had been a "small increase" in crime. "But we remain one of the safest places in the country and are one of the highest performing forces when our public are asked if we do a good job. | Sawyer accepted there had been a "small increase" in crime. "But we remain one of the safest places in the country and are one of the highest performing forces when our public are asked if we do a good job. |
| "We also now have visibility in our communities which is higher than ever with around 40% of people saying they see a uniformed officer in their community at least every two weeks." | "We also now have visibility in our communities which is higher than ever with around 40% of people saying they see a uniformed officer in their community at least every two weeks." |
| He said he had "reservations" as to whether Devon and Cornwall police received "appropriate allocation of central government funding in comparison to other forces". | He said he had "reservations" as to whether Devon and Cornwall police received "appropriate allocation of central government funding in comparison to other forces". |
| Sawyer added: "Our national and local funding arrangements as well as the unique geography and summer policing, for which we are not funded, bring an additional challenge." | Sawyer added: "Our national and local funding arrangements as well as the unique geography and summer policing, for which we are not funded, bring an additional challenge." |
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