This is what police say is happening as officer numbers are cut
A hard-hitting video showing the effects of funding cuts on policing in the West Midlands has been sent to all the region’s MPs.
The West Midlands Police Federation, which represents the constables, sergeants and inspecting ranks who make up the majority of the force’s 6,600 officers, has produced the video as part of its 'Cuts Have Consequences' campaign.
MPs have been urged to do more to spark a reinvestment in policing.
WATCH the video here:
The video highlights some of the effects of the cuts and features footage of closed police stations and custody suites being closed.
Steve Grange, Federation secretary, said: “Since 2010, West Midlands Police has lost more than 2,000 officers – taking its numbers down to the lowest level since 1974 when it was first established.
"However, there has been no corresponding decrease in demand – in fact, the opposite is true.
"The force is trying to tackle traditional crimes while also rising to the challenge of new and emerging offences including cyber-crime and an ever-increasing terrorism threat.
“In all honesty, it is struggling to do so and since it has been hit harder than any other force with £130 million cut from its budget – the highest proportion in the country – this should come as no surprise.
"Neither should it be a shock that we have seen an increase in crime and an inability to respond to all calls to our 101 non-emergency number.
"Due to funding issues, there is now only one police station in the West Midlands Force area that is open 24/7 – just one.
"Our officers are also feeling the strain – their morale is low.
"The number of officers off sick is at historic high levels with a third of the current sickness stress-related, with mental health issues being reported at a growing and alarming rate.
“As a snapshot of how serious this situation is, on one day this summer, a check of the force sickness system revealed that a total of 612 officers and staff were booked off sick with 176 suffering mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress.”
It is the second video of this kind that it has produced. The first was launched in 2015.
