Police are in desperate need of more resources, better pay and less hostile conditions, South Yorkshire Police Federation says.<\/p>\n
Figures show a third of officers struggle to afford food, rent or heating, with police 21% worse off in real terms than in 2010.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cOur officers are starting to break, and we\u2019re talking about all federated ranks here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to see the inspecting ranks starting to crumble, as well as the PCs and the sergeants.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s because of the enormous pressure a force of our size and our budget is under.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t carry on and there needs to be a drastic change to the way policing is funded to give us more resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Steve added: \u201cI\u2019d encourage officers to engage with the Copped Enough campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019ve got any questions come and speak to me, but in the meantime share it far and wide and get that message out there.\u201d<\/p>\n