Saturday, October 15, 2011
A sign of things to come?
This morning's Telegraph carries an interesting story that hundreds of police officers are being privately funded to patrol shopping centres, schools and carry out other specific tasks despite concerns there are not enough on the streets.
They say that officers across the ranks are being paid for by councils, the NHS and other bodies. Some have their salaries met to patrol hospitals, town halls or work alongside trading standards or fire officers.One chief inspector is even paid by the EU to advise Palestinian police.
The Police Federation believe that this trend threatens the operational independence of the force but it seems to me that the trend is one that has been going on for some time. Even the Welsh Government are getting into the act with their promise to fund PCSOs.
In the face of the difficult financial situation and the inevitable cuts that arise from that any initiative will release officers to patrol elsewhere must be welcomed.
They say that officers across the ranks are being paid for by councils, the NHS and other bodies. Some have their salaries met to patrol hospitals, town halls or work alongside trading standards or fire officers.One chief inspector is even paid by the EU to advise Palestinian police.
The Police Federation believe that this trend threatens the operational independence of the force but it seems to me that the trend is one that has been going on for some time. Even the Welsh Government are getting into the act with their promise to fund PCSOs.
In the face of the difficult financial situation and the inevitable cuts that arise from that any initiative will release officers to patrol elsewhere must be welcomed.
Comments:
<< Home
Something similar happens across the pond, with police officers having little side lines like being on-site at Roadworks, working in Malls, etc. But unlike the UK, those public servants like police officers have their salaries published in the likes of the Boston Globe.
Post a Comment
# posted by 
: 8:23 PM
: 8:23 PM<< Home
