POLICE staff union UNISON has\u00a0warned that further massive government cuts to South Yorkshire\u2019s police service will put lives at risk.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
UNISON\u2019s South Yorkshire Police Branch Secretary Ian Armitage said: \u201cThese Government cuts will have a devastating effect on standards of policing and will inevitably put the public at grave risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a crisis and I don\u2019t think people are yet aware of how it will damage the safety and well-being of their communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Staff members are deeply frustrated that they simply don\u2019t have the people or resources to provide the level of service the public needs and deserves.<\/p>\n
UNISON\u00a0said it was\u00a0working closely with the Police Federation\u00a0in South Yorkshire\u00a0to lobby MPs and the Government to drop plans for the huge cuts.<\/p>\n
Mr Armitage said: \u201cWe are seeking to harness the support of everyone in South Yorkshire to help us fight for a future for their police service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n