Two years on – could the police service cope with riots?

THE POLICE Federation of England and Wales has questioned whether the service could cope with another outbreak of widespread rioting – with officer numbers continuing to shrink.

This month marks two years since the 2011 riots which ripped through the streets of our towns and cities across the UK. Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “How many officers have we lost since then?”

Mr Bowles added: “I do not think we would be able to cope as well as we did last time if it were to happen again. We just have not got the officers available.

“The knock of effect on day to day policing for normal communities would also be huge.”

Steve White, vice-chairman of the national Police Federation, questioned “how such disorder could impact on local policing were this to happen again under current budget pressures.”

In August 2011, riots spread started in London and spread across cities in England in what was the biggest display of civil unrest in the UK for 30 years.

Public order officers from across the UK were called on to police the unrest with more than 3,000 people arrested, many for looting, arson and violence.

According to the Police Federation of England and Wales, the “thin blue line was put under vast strain by the enormity of the violence.”

A statement from Mr White added: “Officer numbers are now down by 15,000 since 2010.  Although police officers will always rise to the challenge when it comes to ensuring the public remain safe in such circumstances, we would raise the issue of how such disorder could impact on local policing were this to happen again under current budget pressures.”

Since the riots in 2011, officers have successfully policed the London Olympics. They have also been called to Northern Ireland to provide mutual aid to the G8 conference and for the recent marching season.

Mr White said: “We have already seen depletion in specialist units across the board. Crucially, the recent report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary highlights the risks of losing our neighbourhood policing teams as they increasingly get embroiled in response. “This is an area that sometimes gets forgotten but it can also be those very officers in communities that help to prevent violence before it’s even begun. We hope that today serves as a reminder of just how vital police officers are in ensuring public safety.

“We would like to put our thanks and appreciation on record to officers up and down the country who have done a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances.”

The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers insisted that forces would be much better prepared to deal with a fresh outbreak of rioting two years after trouble flared in London and cities across England.

Sir Hugh Orde speaking to the BBC said the police were better placed to be “able to nip it in the bud” if unrest threatened to break out again.

He said forces had worked closely with Home Secretary Theresa May to ensure the system was “fit for purpose” in future.