Nick Herbert accused some police chiefs of “bursting out into the national media” A Home Office minister has been accused of trying to silence the police after he criticised chief constables who have voiced concerns about government cuts.
Police minister Nick Herbert said it was the “quieter” chief constables who were doing the best job of saving money while protecting the front line.
Mark Sweet, general secretary of the Lancashire Police Federation, said the comments were “appalling”.
Several police chiefs have warned that cuts will lead to a rise in crime.
Most recently, Meredydd Hughes, chief constable of South Yorkshire, told his local police authority that a shrinking force, combined with cuts in council services, would mean more offences.
He also said there would be fewer units available to tackle serious and organised crime, and support staff cuts would lead to officers being overburdened.
Mr Herbert told a conference in London that while the reductions in funding for police forces were “challenging”, they were also “manageable”.
“Nick seems to want to silence the more vocal chief constables”
Mark Sweet Lancashire Police Federation
“The thing that I am increasingly doing is noting the chief constables from forces who are delivering these savings, all requiring difficult decisions I accept, but delivering decisions in a way which actually is protecting the frontline service,” the policing minister said.
“These are often the quieter chief constables, those who are not bursting out into the national media to give us the benefit of their latest opinion, but actually are getting on with the job along with their workers.
“They show that it can be done.”
Responding to those remarks, Mr Sweet said: “Nick seems to want to silence the more vocal chief constables from raising their genuine feedback to him of the impact of the cuts.
“I think that was an appalling statement and he’ll be getting a letter from myself to say so.”
Mr Herbert also said forces must “guard against reverse civilianisation” and the government would be asking questions if chief constables tried to save money by replacing back-room, civilian staff with officers.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is due to address the conference later on Thursday.
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