Well, they seem to be busy enough, there has been a marked increase of them patrolling round areas like Piccadilly Gardens, from enforcing not drinking in public in designated areas (ie taking booze, and probably drugs and such, off the sunbathers, the homeless and general idiots).
There seems to be increased incidents of them accompanying ticket inspectors on Stagecoach buses too, mainly 2 x inspectors and 2 x uniformed officers, sad to think they need to do this!
The football and other major events, which seem to be increasing, along with protests and such must also use up huge resources.
I guess things like this leave far fewer resources for investigation crimes like break-ins.
That said, when there were some nasty gang related incidents in my street some years ago I was more than impressed by the police's reactions, leaflets through the door within hours of one incident, lots of police and PCSOs round talking to people, a mobile police van etc... That resulted in convictions and jail time.
They were also very good when, in two separate incidents my neighbour and near neighbour were reported missing and the police broke in and found them both dead. Similarly in other incidents.
They do a lot of good, I just they are severely curtailed by resources and how they are told to prioritise.