Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Forces should cut officer numbers and use tech to fight crime, police chief says

Police officers at a Crewe Alexandra football game earlier this year
Police chiefs in England and Wales have said they need £3bn extra to fight crime properly. Photograph: Paul Currie/Rex/Shutterstock

Police forces should be allowed to cut officer numbers and spend more money on technology to boost crime fighting, a police chief has said.

Chief constable Paul Sanford, who leads for police chiefs on finances, said there was an obsession with officer numbers, even though it would often be more effective to have fewer officers supported by better technology.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.