Government wants 'nodding dogs' to take charge of policing
Local Police Federation chairman critical of Home Secretary's speechA prominent staff association representative says the government wants 'clones to run the police service'.
Hampshire Police Federation Chairman John Apter took exception to Home Secretary Amber Rudd criticising chief constables for speaking out about budget constraints.
Speaking at the partnership summit of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and (APCC) and National Council of Police Chiefs (NPCC), Amber Rudd said funding needed to be based on 'evidence and not assertions'.
She told chiefs she did not want them 'reaching for a pen to write a press release asking for more money'.
In a Facebook post Mr Apter said: "This is amid an increase in recorded crime and unprecedented terrorist threat.
"The reality is we simply do not have enough money to do the job we need to do. The demand being placed on our officers and staff is unsustainable and we have gone beyond breaking point. The public are suffering, our colleagues are suffering."
Mr Apter said the number of chiefs raising their concerns about budgets should be noted by the government rather than dismissed.
He added: "We know things are bad when chief constables (who are not due to retire) are speaking out so boldly about the pressures they face and the need for more funding.
"For the Home Secretary to challenge chiefs in such a way demonstrates the government appears to want clones running the police service – nothing more than nodding dogs who remain silent even when their professional judgement tells them they must act.
"The political interference in policing, which has been going on for some time, is a bloody disgrace.
"This government does not care about policing. It does not care about those who perform policing. And when the Prime Minister or the Home Secretary talk about the heroic actions of police officers in times of crisis they needn’t bother. Their kind words mean nothing - they are contemptible and are an insult.
"So my message to chief constables who have been so firmly placed on the naughty step is continue to speak out, continue to highlight the truth. It matters."
News Archive
- December 2023 (3)
- November 2023 (5)
- October 2023 (4)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (4)
- July 2023 (3)
- June 2023 (5)
- May 2023 (2)
- April 2023 (5)
- March 2023 (3)
- February 2023 (7)
- January 2023 (11)
- December 2022 (6)
- November 2022 (5)
- October 2022 (5)
- September 2022 (6)
- August 2022 (2)
- July 2022 (11)
- June 2022 (8)
- May 2022 (11)
- April 2022 (8)
- March 2022 (3)
- February 2022 (5)
- January 2022 (12)
- December 2021 (1)
- November 2021 (9)
- October 2021 (4)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (9)
- July 2021 (12)
- June 2021 (4)
- May 2021 (11)
- April 2021 (14)
- March 2021 (14)
- February 2021 (19)
- January 2021 (18)
- December 2020 (6)
- November 2020 (12)
- October 2020 (14)
- September 2020 (15)
- August 2020 (16)
- July 2020 (16)
- June 2020 (18)
- May 2020 (22)
- April 2020 (18)
- March 2020 (23)
- February 2020 (20)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (5)
- November 2019 (6)
- October 2019 (5)
- September 2019 (6)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (6)
- June 2019 (8)
- May 2019 (8)
- April 2019 (8)
- March 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (9)
- January 2019 (9)
- December 2018 (9)
- November 2018 (12)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (7)
- August 2018 (11)
- July 2018 (7)
- June 2018 (9)
- May 2018 (9)
- April 2018 (12)
- March 2018 (10)
- February 2018 (8)
- January 2018 (5)
- December 2017 (6)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (10)
- August 2017 (5)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (6)
- April 2017 (2)
- March 2017 (3)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (3)
- November 2016 (4)
- October 2016 (1)
- September 2016 (4)
- August 2016 (4)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (5)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (3)
- February 2016 (3)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (3)
- November 2015 (3)
- October 2015 (3)
- September 2015 (2)
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (11)
- June 2015 (1)