MPs told: “Real impact of Government cuts yet to be felt”

A DEMOTIVATED police service is one of the real impacts of the Government’s changes to pay and conditions, MPs have been warned.

Insp Tim Mitchel – pictured left with Insp Richard Batty – was one of the seven South Yorkshire Police Federation representatives who travelled to Westminster for a summit with local MPs. “It was a real positive meeting and something we want to build on,” said Insp Mitchel.

He added: “One of the points we really wanted to get across is that in spite of falling crime figures, the government are getting very complacent about crime. The real impact and the Government’s cuts are yet to be felt by the public. “

The Federation representatives spent an hour with their local MPs – all from the Labour Party – at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 11 September.

Insp Mitchel, chairman of the Inspectors’ Branch Board, said: “The cuts are only starting to take effect now and over the next 12 to 18 months, there are going to real problems, a demotivated police service and we will obviously be trying to squeeze far more out of fewer resources and fewer officers.”

At the meeting were John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, Meg Munn, MP for Sheffield Heeley, Clive Betts, MP for for Sheffield South East, Dan Jarvis MP for Barnsley central, Kevin Barron, MP for Rother Valley, and a representative of Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham.