Agreed but it is the front line policing that contributes the essential low grade intelligence needed to detect and track the people who are behind this evil.
In Manchester, a respected police Inspector resigned a number of years ago citing this very reason and addressed his resignation speech at a certain Mrs May, Home Secretary at the time:
Tory police cuts forced me to quit: Manchester inspector reveals effect of austerity policies on officers
Quote:
Now he warns cutting community police will harm early steps to stop teenagers being radicalised.
He told the Home Secretary: “We run the risk here of letting communities down, putting officers at risk and ultimately risking national security.
“I’d ask you to seriously reconsider the budget and the level of cuts over the next five years.”
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As for police numbers, here are the figures over the last few years:
https://fullfact.org/crime/police-of...s-have-fallen/
Other worrying reports from the biased left wing media:
From last year:
Number of police marksmen down almost 20% despite 'Severe' terror threat
Quote:
Forces have lost almost a fifth of their firearms specialists since 2009 with more than 200 leaving the role in the last year.
The total figure is currently 5,647, but this is down by 1,259 or 18 per cent over the past seven years, according to the Home Office.
The disclosure comes at a time when the police service's firearms strength has come under close scrutiny in the wake of terrorist atrocities in Europe.
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From 2015:
Tory cuts to police budget of 20% will leave public unprotected against crime and terror warns retiring senior officer
Quote:
One way some forces are reportedly going to try to operate on smaller budgets is by reducing the number of officers.
Sir Hugh, who is due to stand down ahead of the creation of the National Police Chiefs' Council, told the Observer that taking police off the streets is a clear risk in the fight against extremism.
He said: 'The critical element, it seems to me, with dealing with people who will start to behave differently in their communities is the confidence in that community to speak to the local cops.
'If the cops aren't there and that relationship has not been built we won't get the intelligence.'
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---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
Just to balance the statement on 20% frontline police cuts, the anti-terrorism funding was increased by 30% - it's important to view things in the round, not just on one thing.
In actual fact, it was 13% reduction in police numbers - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40060677 |
BTW, I said it was 20% cut in Police funding not headcount ..