South Yorkshire Police Federation Backs Copped Enough Campaign

Police are in desperate need of more resources, better pay and less hostile conditions, South Yorkshire Police Federation says.

Figures show a third of officers struggle to afford food, rent or heating, with police 21% worse off in real terms than in 2010.

It is why Federation Chair Steve Kent said it was important to support the Copped Enough campaign, a digital picket line that is demanding change.

He said: “Our officers are starting to break, and we’re talking about all federated ranks here.

“We’re starting to see the inspecting ranks starting to crumble, as well as the PCs and the sergeants.

“It’s because of the enormous pressure a force of our size and our budget is under.

“It can’t carry on and there needs to be a drastic change to the way policing is funded to give us more resources.”

Steve called on MPs and the media to highlight the Copped Enough campaign in the hope it brings about much-needed improvements to the policing landscape.

He said work was going on in the background about police getting industrial rights, but that short to medium-term fixes must be brought in immediately.

Steve added: “I’d encourage officers to engage with the Copped Enough campaign.

“If they’ve got any questions come and speak to me, but in the meantime share it far and wide and get that message out there.”