More police cuts will put lives at risk, says UNISON

POLICE staff union UNISON has warned that further massive government cuts to South Yorkshire’s police service will put lives at risk.

Reports have stated that 1,500 police officer and staff roles are at risk – this is on top of the 1,800 already lost from the force since 2007.

UNISON’s South Yorkshire Police Branch Secretary Ian Armitage said: “These Government cuts will have a devastating effect on standards of policing and will inevitably put the public at grave risk.

“The people of South Yorkshire pay for their police service yet it is being systematically eroded and will leave a level of service that will not be fit for purpose.

“This is a crisis and I don’t think people are yet aware of how it will damage the safety and well-being of their communities.

“If they knew just how few people there are, at times, on duty in the control room, incident response groups and other vital back-up support, they would be horrified.”

Mr Armitage said there were already examples of members of the public having to wait more than 30 minutes just for their call to be answered.

And people have been known to wait for four days before a police officer or PCSO have been able to attend non-emergency incidents, including some assaults and non-domestic burglaries.

Staff members are deeply frustrated that they simply don’t have the people or resources to provide the level of service the public needs and deserves.

UNISON said it was working closely with the Police Federation in South Yorkshire to lobby MPs and the Government to drop plans for the huge cuts.

Mr Armitage said: “We are seeking to harness the support of everyone in South Yorkshire to help us fight for a future for their police service.

“There is no question of us crying wolf, as the Home Secretary has claimed in the past. This is a real crisis and the people who will suffer are the ordinary people of South Yorkshire.”