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Lincolnshire Police chief warns of ‘imminent withdrawal of core services’ unless more money can be found as people from Weston, Donington and Spalding hit out over plans to axe 200 officers




Angry communities have spoken out against proposals to axe 200 officers as cash-strapped Lincolnshire Police warns of the ‘imminent withdrawal of core services’ unless more money is found.

The force announced last week that it may have to axe 400 people in total – including frontline officers and support staff – without ‘significant and urgent funding’ as it faces up to a £14 million deficit for the next financial year.

And this is despite an extra 6% in funding from the Government – which last week announced the force will be getting £174.1 million.

The thin blue line could be getting even thinner in Lincolnshire. Photo: iStock/Stephen Barnes
The thin blue line could be getting even thinner in Lincolnshire. Photo: iStock/Stephen Barnes

Lincolnshire – already the worst funded force in the country – has about 1,200 officers and figures revealed by this website in 2023 found we had 1,222 officers at that point.

The cuts could see one in six officers lose their role by 2028/29 –with chief constable Paul Gibson warning ‘this is about the imminent withdrawal of core services to the communities of Lincolnshire’.

Hopes of a dedicated officer in Spalding town centre to tackle its issues look to have been dashed.

Lincolnshire Police could be forced to cut 200 police officers
Lincolnshire Police could be forced to cut 200 police officers

Former police officer Chris Dicks said it ‘beggars belief’ that police officer numbers could be reduced –and feels this problem has been coming for decades.

He said: “Clearly the real problem is the funding of Lincolnshire Police and that could be government and local government.

“We don’t see a police car around here ever in Weston and the only time we do is when they are going to an incident.

“There is no community policing in Spalding and South Holland.

“It makes my blood boil that this has been allowed to happen over the last 15 years and no-one has bothered to do anything about it.

“I don’t blame the police officers – they can only do as much as they can in their shifts.

“I can understand why people are leaving as they can’t take the pressure and it’s going to increase on every police officer within Lincolnshire.”

Coun Nick Worth in Spalding town centre
Coun Nick Worth in Spalding town centre

South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth had proposed using some of Spalding’s £20 million ‘left behind town’ cash to fund a dedicated town policing role, but fears this announcement may scupper that.

He said: “I understand where the police are coming from, they’ve got a massive financial black hole.

“But it’s really disappointing for us. Even if we put funding forward the police are not doing any recruiting in March, so our hopes of having town centre policing looks dashed. A dedicated beat officer or two would make a real difference to the town.”

Coun Worth has a meeting booked in with Lincolnshire Police’s Chief Constable to see if progress could be made but does not feel it looks promising.

He said: “I understand it because the Town Fund can only provide for ten years, and my understanding is that even after the ten years, the police have to continue funding it (the officer’s salary), so it’s all tied up in that.

“Theoretically I haven’t been told no, but I’m not holding my hopes up after the latest news.”

The force has already endured cuts with the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) slashed from 91 to 50 in 2023 - which is already reported to have impact on our communities.

Coun Jane King - ‘rise in anti-social behaviour’
Coun Jane King - ‘rise in anti-social behaviour’

Coun Jane King had previously shared concerns that the loss of the PCSOs in Donington had contributed to a rise in anti-social behaviour - and feels the latest proposals are ‘ridiculous’.

The parish, district and county councillor said: “We’ve had one session where PCSOs were halved and that was very noticeable.

“Our residents need to feel safe and know that if they report something people will attend, not just be given a crime number.

Donington Market Place
Donington Market Place

“We live in such a huge area. If any cut needs to be made it’s rural areas that always seem to be affected.”

Sutton Bridge sits at the edge of the county and often feels vulnerable - and ward member Coun Michael Booth has slammed cutting officers as ‘absolutely disgusting and terrible’.

He said: “We don't want a reduction we want 200 more -it leaves remaining police officers with more work to do.

Coun Michael Booth represents Sutton Bridge
Coun Michael Booth represents Sutton Bridge

“People are concerned for the safety of women and young girls and young lads as well - they don't feel right to go out.

“Should we accept a worse standard than 20 years ago?”

Sutton Bridge resident Craig Jackson has recently expressed his disappointment with the police investigation into a man urinating on his driveway.

Craig Jackson has spoken out against the proposals
Craig Jackson has spoken out against the proposals

He said: “We already have invisible policing in Sutton Bridge, Long Sutton and South Holland - these massive cuts are going to have a devastating impact on the police's ability to provide an effective deterrent; response times; detection rates; and any hope of a return to high visibility community policing in our communities.

"These cuts are going to create an environment in which crime thrives and communities like Sutton Bridge suffer.”

Former Spalding town sergeant Stuart Brotherton says Lincolnshire is not the only force cutting costs.

Stuart Brotherton
Stuart Brotherton

He said: “All forces are facing the same cash crisis and it is not good for anyone. Safety is paramount.”

David Dickason, a former senior police officer in who stood for election as Lincolnshire’s Police Crime Commissioner last year, believes resources can be used better.

He said: “There’s no doubt they’re underfunded but I do think there are better ways of utilising officers, but that’s down to the Chief Constable.

David Dickason
David Dickason

“You need high visibility and public reassurance. The other thing you need is a decent system where members of the public can report intelligence. I’ve tried and in the past given up, because with the website you never get any response back.

“I did say when I stood that the police need to be used in a better way, and commented at the time about the shift system where they have four days on and four days off.

“The police station I was running in central London was operating a similar system, and I found that you need a lot more officers to cover responsibilities.

“I would suggest one of the first things they need to be doing is to go back to eight-hour shifts. I think they’re so stretched because, when you have events, you need officers to be brought in.

“Officers come in and then have time off in lieu, so they disappear so you end up with even less officers. When they have four days on and four days off you haven’t got sufficient cover.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunities missed.”

Helen Stamp chairman of the Lincolnshire branch of the Police Federation said this news is concerning for the public as well as her members.

She said: “For many years Lincolnshire Police have not been fairly funded, this is the consequence. My members work tirelessly to serve the people of Lincolnshire, and they will be wondering how they are going to be able to continue to deliver a quality service when there are 200 fewer of them.

“This is only going to have a negative impact on the morale of them and the wider force.”

Sir John Hayes PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Sir John Hayes PHOTO: SUPPLIED

MP Sir John says people can feel let down by national politicians but not by the local MPs.

The South Holland the Deepings member says that county MPs - now including Labour cabinet member Hamish Falconer - along with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, and the chief constable have made the case for extra funding for some time.

He said: “We’ve had some successes over the years with some extra grants and extra funding on occasion but we have been able under successive governments of all parties to get a review of the police funding formula.

Marc Jones
Marc Jones

“No government is prepared to grasp the nettle to readjust the formula as it will disadvantage some metropolitan areas.”

But he would welcome letters and emails from people to show that they want better funding for the police force. He feels a large amount of support from people would help.

He said: “I have never been home secretary but I know these things help.”

Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Paul Gibson. | Image: Daniel Jaines
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Paul Gibson. | Image: Daniel Jaines

Chief constable Paul Gibson said that the force is forecasting a deficit of ‘at least’ £14million with the latest police settlement.

He said: “There may be some potential extra money to support the neighbourhood policing pledge. We welcome any additional funding that is allocated to policing but unfortunately this will be a tiny percentage of what we need. The letter sent does commit for Home Office officials to work with us on our funding situation, which we have been seeking since August, and we welcome this and will fully engage.

"There is a simple and stark message: without urgent and significant funding, I will need to reduce our organisation by over 400 officers and staff.

"I have reluctantly cancelled police recruitment and will need to start reducing police staff numbers significantly and immediately.

“This is no longer about balancing financial spreadsheets; this is about the imminent withdrawal of core services to the communities of Lincolnshire which will be clearly seen and felt by our residents.

“We will go from being the least funded force in the country to being an extreme outlier at a time when there is the need to improve our services.

"We will always be committed to serving the public and keeping our county safe, but these levels of reductions will inevitably cause a deterioration in service.

"The PCC and I will continue to pursue a fair settlement for Lincolnshire, but at present the only options available are large reductions of essential and committed officers and staff.”

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