Wonder

[sir.prize]

what Mr Cameron’s thoughts are today. He and his ‘lemmings’ have recently been making every effort to justify cuts in the police forces throughout the UK and crying down the fear that it will lead to more crime. A 20 per cent reduction in police funding certainly could lead to a difficult situation.

Mr Prime Minister - this morning a serving police officer lies dead.

[jake-the-peg]

Why do you believe this is linked to Police funding?

[Kromovaracun]

^Well, I guess he's not gonna be costing much more...

[jno]

presumably Cameron thinks "If I hadn't cut police numbers there would have been two officers lying dead."

[jake-the-peg]

Seriously though - this is very interesting

http://skeptics.stack...increased-crime-rates

It looks at crime rates against police funding

There is some correlation but it's a very weak one

I'd say it tells us you can get lower crime rates by spending more money but it won't necessarilly happen that just because you spend more or less money

[woofgang]

I love the news section, the debate is so lucid and logical :-}

[jake-the-peg]

Sorry let me correct that it does of course look at police numbers against crime (which of course is related to funding but not the same)

[Canary42]

Afghanistan deaths didn't stop Armed Services cuts, so what chance one policeman.

[ludwig]

Recorded crime should go down, as there'll be fewer officers available to record it. It's a genius plan.

Actually I would be surprised if there was a link between police numbers and crime rates**. I would have though that the crime rate would stay the same, but the detection and conviction rates would suffer.

(**until you get to an extreme point where the police are effectively non-functional, and criminals know they can do what they want without any fear of interference)

[friedgreentomato]

firstly I believe the officer was off duty so how can you say cost cutting caused his death!!

secondly Mr Cameron has not done anything that all previous governments have done (yes including Labour!!!)

to lay the blame of a dead (off duty copper) at his door shows a lack of intelligence IMO!!!

[Psybbo]

Let's just remember a very brave policeman, whose training to protect the public cost him his life. I believe a police officer is never "off duty" as he or she will always intervene if a crime is being committed.
R.I.P. a brave officer.

[sir.prize]

to lay the blame of a dead (off duty copper) at his door shows a lack of intelligence IMO!!!

Tut tut tut

[friedgreentomato]

Oh I agree Sibton - i was merely pointing out the facts to the OP!!

[DTCwordfan]

What a load of bull, an inane question. Even a contortionist of a professor of logics could not come up with sir.p's reasoning..........

[youngmafbog]

That is a very cheap shot at 'Tory' cuts which i guess was your intention. Unfortunatley you have shown yourself to be lower than any cutter and also did not really think about what you were posin, did you?

[sir.prize]

‘’It is plausible to suggest that police resources play an essential role in tackling crime. While police numbers and resources are far from the only contributor to police effectiveness, it seems highly unlikely that any proposed cuts being enacted will be made without significantly decreasing detection rates. The result will be that offenders will be able to engage in criminal acts with a reduced risk of being caught and sanctioned, making criminal acts less risky and more attractive for potential offenders. As a result, it is possible that recent falls in crime will be halted or even reversed. Members of the public could be at greater risk of crime.’’

But no doubt DTcrosswordfan will also call that a load of bull!

[jake-the-peg]

I wouldn't say it was a load of Bull

I would say it was an opinion

Specifically an opinion from Civitas who are a right wing think tank

So a rather unsurprising opinion

[chaptazbru]

sir.prize - I agree with you ....