A NEW report demanding \u2018profound and far reaching reform\u2019 in policing to protect public safety has been backed by South Yorkshire Police Federation.<\/p>\n
The latest HMICFRS dossier into the state of policing praises officers in England and Wales for their bravery and integrity but says that police leaders, PCCs and the Government need to make bold and long-term decisions to avoid facing \u2018unacceptable compromises in quality of service levels of public safety\u2019.<\/p>\n
The report also calls for a reform of the 43-force system in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
For South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent, the calls for change are pushing against an open door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Sir Thomas Winsor [HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary] is echoing and voicing the concerns that have been raised by the Federation for nearly a decade now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing surprising here, and I welcome the fact that he said the Government need to make bold, long-term decisions to avoid facing compromising the quality level of service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I interpret that is he\u2019s saying the Government must change direction in the way its treated policing, which again is exactly what the Federation have been saying. So, yes, I welcome it. It\u2019s another voice to the crowd. Has it come too late? Probably.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if it can help that turn in direction then I obviously welcome it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve says the public in South Yorkshire have noticed the impact of cuts to policing.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will have to start listening because we\u2019ve got the public starting to notice. The Federation\u2019s noticing and the rank and file are noticing. The Chiefs are noticing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s actually nobody left to defend Government policies that it has had for so long. The person that its put in charge and who was put in charge by the David Cameron and Teresa May administrations [Sir Thomas Winsor] he\u2019s actually now telling them that, essentially, the approach that it\u2019s had is wrong and has resulted in where we are, and I don\u2019t see how it \u00a0can fail to appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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