Should they come to power, Labour proposes to require the police to recruit detectives directly from the business sector, bypassing the need for them to work as beat officers first.
Shadow minister Jess Phillips highlights the current unsolved crime rate of 90%, attributing it in part to a shortage of detectives.
Policing Minister Chris Philp criticises Labour, accusing them of being lenient towards criminals and crime.
According to the Police Foundation think tank, there are approximately 7,000 detective vacancies. While some police forces have direct recruitment schemes from industry, the Police Federation has been hesitant to welcome this policy, arguing that beat experience holds significant importance.
Labour’s plan aims to allow individuals with experience in areas such as business fraud investigation and child protection to join the police force as entry-level detectives.
Labour’s shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding notes that fewer than half of the police forces have schemes to directly recruit detectives with relevant professional backgrounds and skills. She emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach to address the significant shortage of detectives.
In response to Labour’s proposal, Steve Hartshorn, the National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, welcomes the acknowledgement of the detective crisis and the necessity to increase their numbers. He hopes that improved pay and conditions will attract skilled individuals to switch to policing. He also suggests reviewing internal recruitment to make the role of detective more appealing.
Jess Phillips accuses the Conservative government of causing a “total collapse and calamity” in the criminal justice system. She claims that criminals are thriving, and people have lost hope in expecting them to be caught.
Recent data from the Home Office reveals that only 5.7% of crimes were solved by the police in 2022, raising concerns and underscoring the need for reforms. The data covers the 12-month period from April 2022 in England and Wales.
