Tory police cuts are only part of the ongoing crisis affecting victims of crime

London: The drop in clear-up rates for serious crimes happened right when police budgets were slashed, leading to a loss of around 20,000 officers. It’s a tough situation.

The last Conservative government made these cuts back in 2010, claiming they wouldn’t hurt crime fighting. But as time went on, they started to backtrack, blaming “wokery” for distracting officers.

It’s hard to find anyone who thinks those budget cuts didn’t have a negative impact. The real question is how much they’ve affected the service victims receive.

Since 2010, other issues have popped up too. Investigations are more complicated now, often needing to sift through electronic devices. But the budget for tech is low, so digital forensics aren’t up to par.

Austerity has also hit other public services, leaving police to deal with the fallout. Police chiefs often complain about how much time officers spend on mental health issues, which is finally being addressed.

However, some senior voices in policing say too many leaders have lost sight of their main job: catching criminals. There just aren’t enough capable chief constables around anymore.

The criminal justice system is a mess. Some stats show crime is down, but look at them differently, and you’ll see a system in crisis.

While catching serious offenders has plummeted, prisons in England and Wales have become so overcrowded that they had to let some inmates out to avoid bursting at the seams.

Prison conditions are criticized by inspectors, and rehabilitation often feels like a pipe dream. Changes made under Chris Grayling have created new problems that are still being fixed.

Poverty has surged in society, and police leaders often say the areas with the highest crime rates are the same as the poorest. Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of constabulary, pointed out that reducing poverty is key to cutting crime.

He said, “The best crime prevention is increased opportunity and reduced poverty.” We need to invest in our inner cities and poorer areas.

Covid and lockdowns have made the court crisis worse, which was already bad due to austerity. Now, victims face two- or three-year waits for trials, making them hesitant to engage with the justice system.

The Crown Prosecution Service, dealing with its own cuts, claims it’s not just picking the easiest cases, but many in policing aren’t buying it.

Leaders in the criminal justice system admit victims are being let down, and they’re starting to speak out about it. From police chiefs to senior prosecutors, they have ideas, but they only tackle part of the problem.

Everyone agrees that money isn’t the only solution, but it’s a big part of it, and there’s little hope for significant funding anytime soon.

Policing says it needs £3 billion, but what that would actually deliver is unclear. Even successful chiefs, who have turned failing forces around, say the best clear-up rate is only 16%.

When Labour was in opposition, they used low prosecution rates to criticize the Conservative government. But if they don’t improve things, they could end up taking the blame.

Relations between ministers and police chiefs are better now than during the last Conservative years. Police chiefs point to outside factors, but there’s a feeling that while frontline officers are stretched thin, the leadership could step up their game.

The same goes for the wider criminal justice system and the government, as well as those looking to take their place.