Norfolk Police Fed chair says urgent action's needed to end workforce crisis
Official stats show that the total number of officers in the UK dropped by over 330 last year
The chair of Norfolk's Police Federation is calling on the next Government to increase pay for police officers, to stop a 'recruitment and retention' crisis in the service.
It's as official stats show that the total number of officers in the UK dropped by over 330 in Autumn last year.
"I'm seeing the effects of officers mentally falling over"
Andy Symonds says the current trend is unsustainable: "We are a sticking plaster for society's ills and woes and other agencies aren't picking that up, because they've suffered cuts themselves.
"So how far do you want to stretch that elastic band and suffering the consequences of people not wanting to join the force and some leaving it?
"Officers have got their foot to the floor on the accelerator pedal all the time, in an effort to try and maintain a service that they would want, if their families needed to call the police.
"I'm seeing the effects of officers mentally falling over, because they are trying to do their best.
"They're having to rely on us to support them in referring them to debt agency and helping them to find things like accommodations, on some occasions."