Police Service Strength

The Home Affairs Committee says that, faced with the prospect of funding cuts, the police service will have to fundamentally re-think the way in which it provides back-office functions in order to support the front-line. It says across the board the service needs more support from Government to allow the service to find new ways of maximising service levels and efficiency, such as involving the private sector, or exploring force mergers. Although figures show overall rises in both the number of police officers and the number of police staff employed across the service over the past five years this varied significantly across forces with 13 forces reporting a reduction over the same period. On the basis of provisional financial information from the Government, some forces are planning to cut officer numbers in the next financial year. The position after 2011 is unclear as the Government has given no indication of funding settlements after that, but all forces believe they will have to make significant spending cuts. The Committee believes it may be time to review the entire means by which money is allocated to forces, as the distribution of the police national grant is seen as a barrier to maximising resources. It has become clear to the Committee that voluntary mergers can enable forces to make substantial savings. And in the right circumstances, the private sector can provide the police with expertise they may lack, value for money in service delivery and a source of up-front investment.

Special constables are warranted officers retained within British constabularies. Wearing similar uniforms, carrying the same personal protective equipment and holding identical powers to enforce the criminal law, special constables are to all intents and purposes indistinguishable from their colleagues in the regular police service. However, very little is documented about the experiences and motivations of special constables, the roles they play in contemporary policing or the impact that they have on the police organisation. This book draws together academics and practitioners to provide a valuable insight into historical, international and contemporary themes pertinent to the historical development and contemporary operation of the special constabulary. The book critically considers the origins of the special constabulary and the political, social and economic factors which led to its evolution over time. It compares and contrasts the organisation, functions and status of the special constabulary with other auxiliary forces, notably from the United States. The book also contributes to theoretical understanding of contemporary policing, to debates about the roles and operation of the 'mixed economy' of provision, and informs policy and practice in the United Kingdom and beyond.

The 7th report (HCP 364-I, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780215524867), from the Home Affairs Committee examines policing in the 21st century, with Volume 2, providing oral and written evidence, (ISBN 9780215524850). The Government aims to replace the top-down police targets with locally-set priorities and encourage greater use of officer discretion, backed by more effective supervision. At present, the Committee believes that public expectations of the police are not being met, with the public wanting the police to put a greater focus on minor crime and anti-social behaviour. Further, the police need to be more visible and responsive to the public and give greater consideration to the needs of the victim when investigating crime. Police resources have been put under greater pressure particularly where foreign nationals need to be processed. Whilst funding shortfalls have been exposed where rapid population change has occurred due to immigration.The Committee highlights a concern over the deployment of police for longer periods dealing with alcohol-related crime due to the changes in the licensing laws and are not convinced of the effectiveness of Alcohol Disorder Zones. Further, the Committee expresses concern about the large number of murder suspects released on bail, but do support amendments to the bail laws to take into account the capacity of the police forces to monitor offenders, and a presumption against bail in murder cases. There are also examples of effective police approaches in reducing gang-related knife and gun crime, combining diversionary activities and targeted intelligence-led campaigns against known offenders. The police need to find ways though to free up resources, and the Committee expresses disappointment at the lack of progress in reducing police bureaucracy. Centralisation of the development and purchase of technology through the National Policing Improvement should reduce costs and ensure systems are integrated and prevent duplication. More control should be given to local forces, with greater accountability of policing at a local level. The Committee also identifies a gap in provision for tackling serious and organised crime.

Focusing on a time of profound social and political change, this book offers a detailed and engaging history of policing, covering the key themes of social stability, professionalisation and police reform, as well as the major events between 1974 and 2008 such as the Miners' Strike of 1984.

This report focuses on the impact of the Government's proposed settlement for police forces from 2011-12 to 2014-15. It is expected that there will be significantly fewer police officers, police community support officers and police staff as a result of the savings being required of police forces over the next four years. The loss of posts will have an impact on the range of services that the police provide and the way in which they are provided. Police forces are being asked to prioritise the front line but there is confusion as what exactly this term means. The Home Office should work with the police service to produce an agreed definition of front line, middle office and back office police roles as soon as possible. The Government should continue taking urgent steps to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. More co-ordinated procurement also offers scope for savings. The Home Office should clarify who will be responsible for driving better procurement when the National Policing Improvement Agency is phased out in spring 2012. The greatest savings are being required of police forces in 2012-13, when the transition from Police Authorities to Police and Crime Commissioners is scheduled to take place and when police forces nationwide will be under the additional pressure of policing the Olympics. The Home Office should acknowledge that there are risks involved in this transition and should set out how it should be managed. Police forces need a funding system that offers long-term predictability in order to be able to plan more effectively, especially at a time of reduced income.

This book brings together knowledge, debates and themes of police culture in one highly accessible resource to provide an overview of the key literature of the area.

A comprehensive introduction to policing in England and Wales, providing you with an in-depth understanding of the challenges and complexities of modern policing and an increased awareness of the history and development of the profession. This second edition covers the most pressing debates and issues associated with contemporary policing and examines a range of key topics such as methods of policing, diversity and the police, police accountability, and much more. The new edition includes: A new chapter on women in policing Expanded content on diversity issues within the police service An account of the changes to transnational policing as a result of Brexit Reflections on the use of social media by police Advice for those wanting to embark on a career in the field. Written in an introductory way that is ideal for any policing, criminology, or criminal justice student new to police studies.