Cooper: Cuts will ‘inevitably’ hit the frontline

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said in response to the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report defining frontline policing:

“The government is putting chief constables in an impossible position.

“Today’s HMIC report shows that 95% of police officers are either on the frontline or working in important ‘middle office’ jobs in things like intelligence, planning major operations, burglary and drugs offences, or preparing cases for court.

“Cutting over 12,000 police officers and 15,000 police staff is inevitably hitting the frontline. The home secretary needs to change course. She is cutting too far, too fast and it is local communities that will pay the price.”