Police force on it’s knees and in crisis

The police are struggling to cope – we’re in crisis” – that’s the words of Hampshire Police Federation’s Chairman, John Apter.John’s statement comes after hearing campaigners in Hampshire are calling for a massive funding boost to be given to Policing.Traders in Lyndhurst in the New Forest were left angry earlier this week after they chased and detain a suspected thief but had to let him go after 40 minutes as over stretched Police were too busy to attend the incident.Police were also requested to attend an incident at Seaview by HM Coastguard on Friday night but officers did not arrive before other arrangements were made.Campaigners are calling for Hampshire Constabulary and other forces across the UK to be given a major cash injection similar to the one awarded to the NHS.John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, has said he shares the anger and frustration felt by the traders.Mr Apter has warned that the number of officers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has dropped to dangerously low levels – both for the police and the people they are striving to protect.Speaking about the situation, John has said:“The police are struggling to cope – we’re in crisis.“There are not enough officers and there’s now a real sense of vulnerability. There are too many jobs for the amount of police on the streets and something has to give.”Hampshire Constabulary’s Chief Constable, Olivia Pinkney, and Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, are said to be campaigning for fairer funding.Police have said of the incident in Lyndhurst: “At the time police were dealing with a number of Grade 1 incidents, including a high-risk missing person, and no units were available to be deployed”.