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The Winsor report has suggested many changes, big and small that will affect the way we do our jobs from now on. The current financial situation has also had a big affect on officers with our pay and pensions. No pay rises, paying more and getting less for many if not all current serving officers and no CRTP for new officers! The other side of that is the 20% budget cut means less cars, officers, support staff, back office functions gone and more focus towards centralising our work, etc.
My force now issues tactical vests and we all wear the national black uniform with boots. This is the standard for most forces in the UK and is a considerable change from the days of the custodian, trenchcoat and whistle! Is this the new standard or will we be looking like judge dredd in another 10, 20 years.
Scottish forces will be merging into a single force next year. Will we see the same thing happen in England and Wales or could the last governments plans In 2005/06 to merge the 43 forces to around 17 resurface in some form?
Response officer numbers are falling everywhere and response times are suffering as a result. There are less officers on shifts, will we see shifts changed and merged. What hours will we work, 8, 10, 12 or maybe even longer with a rest period like firefighters. Or could we become more like paramedics and have a few deployment stations and go anywhere in the force rather than just your division?
The federation have written a letter to the PM about the costing of taser for every officer in light of the lower officer numbers. Will a few more be issued or will we all get one?
Will there be another disturbance in the scale of the riots last year? Will we be able to deal with it with 6000 officers less? Will we see more officers trained to use baton guns? Will water cannons be bought and deployed?
With all the changes already made and those on the horizon, will the police be able to recruit and retain officers in the future? Will specials become a full reserve force like the TA or stay as the are?
I'd like to hear what anyone thinks about these points and any others that they want to make. What do you think the police will look like in the future with all of these changes. Will it be similar to what we know and love today and have done for many years or will it be radically different in a few years?
Edited by Nykad21, 09 September 2012 - 03:25 PM.
