Budget cuts are affecting our wellbeing, say detectives

MORE than eight in 10 detectives have said that cuts to the policing budget are having an effect on their wellbeing, a new survey has shown.

The National Detectives’ Survey, carried out by the Police Federation of England and Wales, found that 83% of officers felt that service cuts had damaged their mental health.

Respondents blamed cuts for increased stress levels, tiredness due to managing increased demands, increases in travel, lower pay and more hours.

And the majority felt they were only able to offer a second-rate service to victims and witnesses, according to the survey.

Out of 5,557 responses, only around a third of officers – 32% – felt able to provide the service they would like to victims ‘most’ or ‘all of time’. More than half – 68% – stated they could provide this ‘never ‘or only sometimes’.

Just under a third – 27% – felt able to provide this service to witnesses ‘most ‘or ‘all of time’ and 73% stated ‘never’ or ‘sometimes’. In both areas detectives cited workloads as the main issue.

In addition, 95% of detectives said they felt the service to the public has deteriorated.

Martin Plummer, chair of the Police Federation’s National Detectives Forum, who commissioned the survey, said: “Detectives do an amazing job, often working long hours on lengthy investigations that can be incredibly complex. They have a key role in liaising with both victims and witnesses and it is disturbing that they feel they cannot give the service they would like, stating cuts in the service as a factor. This is also having an impact on their stress levels, health and personal life.

“Officers are being pushed to the limit and this survey shows that the increased pressure is taking its toll on them and potentially on the successful outcome of investigations. We feel this is a completely unacceptable state of affairs.”

One experienced detective told the survey: “The increase in workload and subsequent demand and home contact have taken my mental health to a limit where I have seriously considered taking time off due to ill health… I find myself completely distracted whilst at home with thoughts of work, resulting in not engaging in family life and taking any true ‘down time’.”

Another said: “I get anxious about coming to work sometimes and get constant migraines due to stress. Most times I come to work and suffer through fear of falling further behind with work or spend my rest days feeling ill and drained due to work.”