Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Public safety 'jeopardised by police cuts' (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) ? Government plans for cuts and reform of the police service risk "compromising the safety of citizens for reasons of expediency", one of Britain's most senior police officers will warn in a speech later Monday.

In a clear message to ministers, Sir Hugh Orde will say that, if the changes are "mismanaged", they could "threaten the impartial model of policing that has existed for 180 years" and is "revered across the world".

The warning will come in a speech by the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) to the organisation's annual conference in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

Sir Hugh will open the meeting, which will also be addressed by Home Secretary Theresa May, by urging ministers to be clearer about their proposals.

He is set to say: "The service of last resort is going through a period of substantial change.

"Changes to accountability, changes to central structures and changes to pay and conditions, which if mismanaged could threaten the impartial model of policing that has existed for 180 years and is revered across the world.

"We understand the government's determination to deliver a substantial programme of reforms across the public sector, but we cannot afford to get policing wrong, and unless greater clarity emerges in the very near future I fear that we run the risk of compromising the safety of citizens for reasons of expediency."

The home secretary is expected to defend the government's cost-cutting proposals for the police service at the conference before taking a question and answer session.

The government is planning to cut its £11 billion funding for the police in England and Wales by 20 percent by 2014-15.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/britain/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110704/wl_uk_afp/britaincrimepolice

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