Backroom cuts ‘damage the whole of policing’
It is impossible to cut backroom services in police forces without damaging the whole of policing, the Police Federation has warned.
Alex Duncan, professional standards lead, Police Federation of England and Wales, said the government should note warnings contained within an HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report published today into anti-corruption measures which showed some forces have been forced to cut the size of their professional standards departments to cope with the severe budget cuts.
Mr Duncan said: ‘We welcome HM Inspectorate of Constabulary’s confirmation of what we have been saying for years - there is no endemic corruption in the police service. As the report makes clear, the overwhelming majority of police officers are honest and professional and are the first to call for those who fall beneath these high standards to be properly dealt with.
‘The small number who do not adhere to these high standards are brought to justice primarily as the direct result of the active intervention of their colleagues. As the report makes clear, it is vital that professional standards departments are properly resourced and while we welcome the fact that many forces have managed to achieve this despite a severe cut in their budgets in recent years, it is disappointing that some have felt it necessary to make savings in this area.
‘This represents more clear evidence, if any were required, that it is impossible to reduce backroom services without damaging the service as a whole.’
