By Mark Langabeer (Hastings and Rye Labour member)
Dispatches, Channel 4’s documentary programme (see here), recorded on the 7th Dec described the crises of confidence in Britain’s police force. Using freedom of information sources, the programme reports that over 500,000 crimes are screened out. Reports are often left on file. The police are unlikely to attend many of these incidents. One in three burglaries and 40% of car thefts are screened out. Even crimes that involve violence are simply placed on file. Less than 6% of crimes result in charges.
The presenter, Lesley Sharp, interviewed Martin Hewitt, the Chair of Chief Constables National Council. He stated that the range of crimes have increased and it’s not possible to send an officer to every incident. In real terms, the budget for policing has fallen by £16 billion since 2011.The CEO of Police Training stated “…that the force often deals with incidents involving mental health because there are too few suitable responders.”
Staff workloads and increased attacks on Police Officers have resulted in an increase in mental illness issues affecting staff. It was reported that assaults on officers had increased by 63% since the Covid pandemic. Over 100 officers are assaulted on a daily basis. Access via a Freedom of Information request states that 571,000 days were lost because of mental health issues last year. This represents a 40% increase since 2019. Of those that retire early, on ill- health grounds, 55% are for mental health reasons.
The Tories claim that they will recruit 20,000 officers by 2023. However, 3,400 Police resigned last year. It’s a case of experienced officers being replaced by inexperienced ones. A survey of 500 officers suggests a fall in morale within the service.
Lowest point
Hewitt described the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer as the lowest point in his time within the Police. Racism and misogyny within the Police Force isn’t just a case of a few rotten apples; it’s systemic. It’s the experience of many black and female officers. A report suggests that it’s too easy for the wrong kind of person to be recruited. 92% of complaints made by the public results in no action taken. Only 1% results in the removal of an officer.
The Tories claim that they are the party of law and order. Well they have certainly taken measures to massively increase police powers to clamp down on protest and dissent, with some of the most draconian legislation this country has seen in living memory. The political role of the police, as a defender of the status quo of class society is stronger than ever. But as regards the day-to-day business of preventing and detecting crime and catching those responsible, the evidence presented in this programme suggest otherwise.
Years of Tory austerity have weakened the police’s ability to combat crime. As with all of our public services, a programme of public investment is urgently required. However, in my view, police numbers alone can never solve the problem of crime. In the longer term, reductions in deprivation and inequality are required, as well as a serious attempt to deal with the crises of mental illness and substance abuse. Only a government armed with socialist measures could substantially reduce crime in Britain.
