The day is Saturday, August 17 2019. I have just completed one of my regular five-mile walks through inner London. During this journey, I have not seen a single uniformed member of the police force, no police car has driven past, and there was not even one open police station in sight. This is far from unusual in the city today. One might, of course, argue that this demonstrates we are not living in a police state. The reality is, however, that this lack of policing may be adding to a rise in the reported levels of crime.
London has had a proud tradition of policing that dates back to 1829, when the Metropolitan Police was set up by the Metropolitan Police Act, thereby replacing the Bow Street Runners (1753) and the Bow Street foot and horse patrols (1805). Over the years. the sight of a helmeted policeman walking the beat was to become a familiar and reassuring sight on the streets of London. Despite sporadic allegations of corruption, coercion and racism, overall the police force was considered to be a positive influence in the lives of ordinary Londoners.
The police have always had performed an essential role in the enforcement of law and order. More recently, neighbourhood policing has aided in crime prevention by creating better working relationships with local communities. High police visibility and accessibility undoubtedly deter crime, but the police are actually much less in evidence at present. In spite of this reduced police presence, there is nothing to suggest that the human propensity to commit crime has declined in any way. If anything, newer forms of crime, including covert crimes such as cybercrime, continue to emerge.
So, what has really changed? Austerity measures imposed by the government since 2010 have led to cuts in public spending which have affected all 43 police forces in England and Wales. The number of full-time equivalent police officers fell by over 20,000 between March 2010 and March 2018. According to the National Audit Office, the police workforce was 122, 404 in 2018, down from 143,734 in 2010. Policing in Scotland and Northern Ireland, on the other hand, has been devolved locally, and police numbers in Scotland have been rising steadily over the last thirty years.
The links between falling police numbers and rising levels of crime have yet to be confirmed through formal research. Previous Home Secretary Theresa May’s claims that there was no link were used to justify her decision to reduce police numbers. What is, however, becoming apparent is that the police force is struggling to cope with the existing workload. Serious organised crime and counter-terrorism policing have been prioritised over all other forms of crime. Knife crime is rising. At the same time, investigations of thefts, burglaries and common assaults have been falling. Despite all of this, a depleted workforce is also having to respond to mentally ill people in the community and other issues not normally within its remit.
The sole contact with law enforcement for many victims of crime is through the national phone number 101. This dialogue leads to the assignation of a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) reference number, which is mostly useful for making any resulting insurance claim. It is no longer possible to expect the police to attend every scene of crime or to meet with the victims of crime in person. This is good news for low-level criminals, who can act with impunity knowing that their crimes are unlikely to be investigated and thereby lead to an arrest and subsequent prosecution.
In an attempt to restore police numbers, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined plans to put 20,000 new police officers on the streets of England and Wales by 2022, at a cost of £1.1 billion. It remains to be seen if the delivery will match up to the promises, as recruitment and training will inevitably lead to delays in the process of making up the numbers. The widespread closure and sale of police stations, 606 having closed between 2010 and 2018, will also need a rethink.The hope is that whatever happens will suitably reassure the general public once again.
Ashis Banerjee (ex-NHS; often liaised with the Metropolitan Police)