No additional funding for salaries offered by Home Office despite sharp rise in recorded crimeThe number of police officers in England and Wales has fallen by 1213 in six months and is now 16% below its 2009 peak,official figures have shown. The latest Home Office statistics attach the number of officers in the 43 police forces in England and Wales on 30 September last year at 121929, down from 123142 on 31 March last year and from 144353 in 2009. In evidence submitted to the police remuneration review body last week, and the Home Office made clear that no more central funding would be available for the pay settlement,describing the recruitment and retention of officers as “steady”. But Labour said that was out of touch with reality, given the figures. Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk