Police Federation head dubious of PM's 'new bobbies' promise

A senior police federation official has cast doubt on the Prime Minister’s promise to put thousands more bobbies on the beat.

Mike Peake, Chair of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, claimed that existing budgets won’t stretch to recruiting and training more cops. 

With most GMP departments already understaffed and officers leaving the force in record numbers, Mr Peake is dubious as to where the extra boots on the ground will come from. 

“Of course, I want to see ‘more bobbies on the beat’, but more importantly I want GMP to be able to have far more officers to take the pressure off my hard-working colleagues. 

“However, without major government investment in police budgets I cannot see how this can be achieved.

“Moving more officers into neighbourhood roles will only result in officers who are working in other key roles having to do even more work, which is just unsustainable. 

“Sadly, we are seeing far too many officers leaving GMP as the role of a police officer for many carries far too much workload pressure and risk.” 

As well as aiming to recruit 3,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers (PCSOs) over the next year, Sir Keir Starmer also announced a £66m “summer crime blitz” to target antisocial behaviour from shoplifters, pickpockets, phone thieves and people attacking shop workers. 

The Prime Minister said the government will spend £200m on hiring new frontline police officers, which follows on from £100m announced in January to bolster neighbourhood policing in England and Wales.  

"We've got to end this culture of crime that is destroying our communities," he said. 

"Today I can announce the first step: 3,000 new neighbour officers, being onboarded by the start of next year. 

"All of them visible, on the beat and serving their communities, not stuck behind a desk or taken away to plug shortages elsewhere.” 

However, the National Police Chiefs' Council said in 2024 that they have a £1.3 billion hole in their finances over the next two years.