LITTLE attention has been paid to the huge levels of demand on South Yorkshire Police officers as cuts have been imposed.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the view of South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Neil Bowles, who was responding to the publication of a review into the force.<\/p>\n
It found that South Yorkshire Police has suffered from poor decision making and planning as well as financial underinvestment.<\/p>\n
The peer review by the College of Policing said the force lacked strategic vision and the capacity to implement effective change.<\/p>\n
It also criticised the force’s approach to neighbourhood policing and said it was failing to listen to its staff.<\/p>\n
Responding to the report, Mr Bowles said: \u201cThe cuts have just been applied across the board to reduce police officers and staff, with no account of what our actual demand is. Nobody listened to us or the practitioners about what would or what would not work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe totally agree with the first paragraph of the narrative; there are a very high number of high quality and dedicated Officers and Staff trying to make things work. However this work has been compromised by the poorly co-ordinated change programme and unsophisticated resource planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have \u2018jumped ship\u2019 and are continuing do so. I agree with the recommendations and hope that the new Chief Constable takes this all on board and is allowed to get on with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Interim Chief Constable Dave Jones said: \u201cThe report holds a mirror up to the organisation and reflects the views of the police officers and staff who try so hard to provide the best possible service to the communities in South Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pay tribute to those officers and staff who continue to ‘go the extra mile’ for the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said there is a \u201crecognition [in the report] that South Yorkshire Police has many dedicated, high quality people who are doing an excellent job and displaying high levels of public service motivation.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is clear that there has been a lack of direction which has led to a situation where decisions have been made in isolation, rather than collectively, often based on financial targets instead of a clear understanding of demand and sense of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report will aid the next chief, likely to be Durham DCC Stephen Watson.<\/p>\n