Police under-funded according to new crime perception probe

• A survey has found that most people in Gloucestershire think the police are under-funded
• They want to see more police on the streets attending, solving and preventing crime
• While many raised issues around burglary, drugs, anti-social behaviour, rural and organised crime, almost 90% of people questioned said they either felt safe or very safe going out in Gloucestershire
• The ‘Perception of Crime’ survey was carried-out on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, Chris Nelson
• Mr. Nelson said, “I was elected to increase the size of the Constabulary, improve services and cut Anti-Social Behaviour. That’s what I’m doing and this survey will help me provide a service the public deserves and wants to see, but at a cost it can afford.

Most people, when asked how they felt about the level of crime in their neighbourhood, said the police are under-funded.

As a result, there are not enough police on the streets, according to those who responded to a survey examining their perception of crime in Gloucestershire.

Among the issues which most concerned those who took part in the online questionnaire, were drugs, burglary, anti-social behaviour, speeding, street drinking, rural crime and organised crime.

Around 75% said the Constabulary did not have enough money to do its job. Many wanted to see more spent on recruiting extra officers, improving the criminal justice system, attending, solving and fighting crime.

However, almost 90% of those taking part, felt generally safe or very safe.

“The findings of this survey are clear. The public want to see investment in our police”

Those are some of the headlines of the survey which has been carried-out by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner over the last six weeks and which closed yesterday (Wednesday). The results will be analysed independently and presented to the county’s Police and Crime Panel.

olice and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson, who is currently drawing-up the policing budget for the next financial year, said: “Speaking to residents on the doorstep has given me a good feeling for what people want to see the police doing.  Visibility, tackling neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.

“But I also wanted to seek their views on how to address rising prices and inflation, which are squeezing the Constabulary’s finances and its ability to provide the services everyone would like to see.

“The findings of this survey are clear. The public want to see investment in our police and that’s what I’m doing.

“With the cost of policing in Gloucestershire is split almost equally between Central Government and local tax payers, any extra investment the public want to make will have to come out of council tax.

“I will be producing a budget that will help the Constabulary provide the service the public deserves and wants to see, but at a cost it can afford”.

Altogether, 657 people responded to the survey, roughly 1% of Gloucestershire’s population. Whilst low, the figure can still be considered representative with just a 4% margin for error.

Once the PCC has set his budget, it will go to the next meeting of the police and crime panel early in February.