Bobbies on the beat coming to an end

[annie]

copyright METROPOLITAN POLICE

Two of the country's most senior police officers have signalled that the era of routine patrols by "bobbies on the beat" has come to an end.

The comments have been made by the chairwoman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Sara Thornton, and Craig Mackey, the deputy commissioner of the Met Police.

They said funding cuts would lead to a transformation in investigating crime.

The Home Office said police reform was working and crime was falling.

The police service does not have a ring-fenced budget and has been told to expect a 25% to 40% reduction in funding in November's Comprehensive Spending Review.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Mr Mackey said the Met was anticipating a £1bn cut in funding, which could lead to up to 8,000 job losses - a quarter of the force. He said compulsory redundancies were now a real possibility

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[maureenho]

We'll soon be policing ourselves.

[wendy]

The link does not work

[Rosalind]

You do not see bobbies on the beat now.

[daisy]

We never see bobbies here, not even patrolling in cars. the police station was opened a few years ago by Prince Charles - it has closed now.