Provisions at a South Yorkshire Police food bank have been snapped up by officers who are struggling to put food on the table.<\/p>\n
The lifeline facility offered cops basic food and other supplies to keep them afloat during difficult times.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said officers would only use such a facility if they had no other choice, adding that it was a stark illustration of how little they are paid.<\/p>\n
Steve said: \u201cCops aren\u2019t going to necessarily take pots of pasta and nappies and cans of beans unless they really need to, so they have.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt goes back to the conversation of are police officers paid enough in this country?<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we\u2019ve seen a couple of moderate pay rises in recent years but it\u2019s not going to repair the damage compared to inflation.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur cops don\u2019t get anywhere near enough recompense for the service they provide and the risk they face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve\u2019s comments follow reports of police officers resorting to extreme measures to make ends meet. One case study detailed how some officers were sleeping in their cars due to skyrocketing household bills.<\/p>\n
He said that officers in South Yorkshire were getting on okay in terms of housing but were struggling with day-to-day expenses.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t necessarily say housing\u2019s an issue, but if I turn it around and talk about officers struggling to put petrol in their cars, struggling to put food on the table [that is an issue].<\/p>\n
Steve also explained officers commuting from out of force areas were also having to fork out more on petrol to arrive at work on time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a challenge and it adds up. It\u2019s something that is relevant,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily people putting a roof over their head, but it\u2019s certainly people struggling with the bills and struggling with stuff like that \u2013 and that\u2019s a concern for cops.\u201d<\/p>\n