Knife Crime Funds ‘Will Just Pay For Overtime’

EXTRA funds promised to forces to help in their fight against knife crime will most likely just ‘pay for overtime’, South Yorkshire Police Federation has warned.

Around £100m has been earmarked to boost anti-knife crime tactics with cash being diverted to areas that need it most – South Yorkshire included.

South Yorkshire Police Federation says that it’s been told that ‘a budget is forthcoming’ but that it will most likely only cover existing officers’ overtime pay.

Chairman Steve Kent said the funds would just ‘paper over the cracks’. He said: “It’s a short-term idea for a long-term problem.

“All it’s going to do is potentially make already tired officers even more tired if they have to work extra hours.

“The Chief has intimated that there is a budget that’s coming. But that, essentially, is just for overtime.”

Proactive policing, which is difficult to do because of a cut in officer numbers, and adequately funding a multi-agency approach are key, Steve said.

He explained: “We’ve seen schemes that have happened successfully in Glasgow, where knife crime has fallen because of the investment they’ve put into the infrastructure, and investment into the social side of things to stop people going down those lines in the first place.

“It’s not just policing. There needs to be investment across the board and a different approach to tackle this problem. It’s not just for officers to arrest their way out of it.”

Stop-and-search is a tactic against the rising tide of knife crime, but there need to be enough officers on the frontline to carry it out effectively, Steve added.

He said: “It can be controversial, and let’s not forget that you need officers to be free to go out and proactively look for potential offenders.

“Again, commenting from the frontline, back over a decade ago you had time to go out and proactively look for people who you suspected of being out there and committing crime. Because we are reactive rather than proactive, because of the demand, we don’t always get the time to go out and stop and search people.

“It’s nice in theory, but it’s got to be backed up with those numbers to go out and see the boots on the ground. If in communities people started to see a police presence and started to see a proactive police presence, using the newer powers, then it might start to take effect.”