Police cuts harming service to victims, detectives say

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/27/police-cuts-harming-service-say-detectives

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Victims of crime are suffering a poorer service because of police budget cuts, a survey of detectives indicates.

Not only do the results published on Monday highlight the continuing pressure officers are under, they show that detectives believe victims and witnesses of crime are getting a sub-standard level of service as a result, the Police Federation of England and Wales said.

Only 39% of respondents said they were “able most or all of the time to provide the service victims needed” and just 34% said they were able to do the same for witnesses.

Paul Ford, secretary of the federation’s national detectives’ forum, said: “The results of this survey make for very uncomfortable reading but highlight in no uncertain terms the actual impact that the cuts are having on victims, witnesses, detective officers and the police service as a whole.

“This is the sad reality of the state that the service is in. Victims and witnesses are our primary concern and it is grossly unfair that detectives are under such intense pressure to provide the service that the public want and deserve.

“Officers are clearly stretched to capacity and doing their level best to deliver against the odds.

“The austerity cuts are having an effect on everyone but this is totally unacceptable; it is jeopardising the service the public get and will have a detrimental impact on future successful investigations and prosecutions.”

Other results of the poll of nearly 4,000 detectives were that 54% said they did not have the necessary access to technology to work effectively, 80% said cuts had affected their wellbeing and 52% said their working hours were not flexible for those with caring responsibilities.

An overwhelming 88% said an increased workload had led them to feel under pressure while 74% said that work keeps them away from family/social activities more than they would like.

The survey was conducted by the federation from 11 September to 3 October. Detectives throughout England and Wales were invited to participate and there were 3,972 responses, from ranks ranging from Detective Constable to Detective Chief Inspector.