Serving officers - What is the effect of the CV crisis

[markyb_lcy]

I have read from some sources on here that the vast majority of crimes (not domestic violence) are down on their usual levels during this crisis.

I was wondering if any serving police officers or those close to serving officers could add any meat to the bone or provide any stats or observations to back that up?

Thanks.

[Cads]

There’s certainly some truth in this. Domestic burglars are find business tough with homeowners not playing ball and leaving their homes.
But commercial burglary seems to be a thing as the clever crooks have sussed out that businesses don’t appear open and are therefore fair game.

Domestics are obviously up as are associated sexual offences.
There are also a variety of crimes reported which are associated to the pandemic. Assaults and public order offences on shop etc are up.
People claiming they have the virus are using this as a weapon and spitting at public, NHS and generally anyone they want. Luckily courts are taking a dim view on this for a change and dishing out some decent bird.
Neighbour disputes never go away and are exacerbated by people being at home more.
People are telling tales on those they think are breaching the rules and calling that in.

But overall the number of police incidents in a 24hr period are likely down.
But don’t forget officer numbers are being affected by illness, isolation, caring for vulnerable family etc.
Police get PPE but still have to deal with numpties.

[Bigends]

Crime down by 50% overall in my force area last week (compared to a normal week). Domestic related crime up slightly

[markyb_lcy]

Bigends said:

Crime down by 50% overall in my force area last week (compared to a normal week). Domestic related crime up slightly

Wow that's an even bigger effect than I'd expect. I sure do feel for those who have domestic problems to face, kind of an impossible situation for them

Thanks to you both so far for your observations.

[ED209]

Domestic violence up, some acquisitive crime up. People taking advantage of the emptier than usual streets to burgle sheds, garages, shops.

Idiots are still being idiots though and the usual demand from their usual drug and alcohol fuelled petty squabbles and poor behaviour still exists.

Night time economy sexual offences are massively down, lot of work in my area from these as it’s a bit of a party city.

Loosing about 30% of my response team to symptoms or self isolation doesn’t really help with that demand.

[Greendubber]

Daily business is down but still continuing as normal

Lots of default patrols to include shopping centres/supermarkets

Roads are quiet which is a bonus as its halved my commute time

Quite a lot of staff in isolation but they're starting to return and its plateaud out now.

[focusxr5]

In our force, domestic violence offences are up (against both genders). For my department the biggest rise has been pursuits. With less cars on the road, the dealers and general scummers are standing out a lot more and so they are easier to target by us.

[markyb_lcy]

focusxr5 said:

In our force, domestic violence offences are up (against both genders). For my department the biggest rise has been pursuits. With less cars on the road, the dealers and general scummers are standing out a lot more and so they are easier to target by us.

And with the emptier roads, do they seem more keen to give chase than they ordinarily would?

I can imagine they stick out a fair bit. I wonder if dealers are doing as much business as they normally would. Or maybe even a bit more, or a bit less. One of those things I guess it’s impossible to gauge.

[vonhosen]

Sudden death numbers up (not being reported as Covid-19 related).

[focusxr5]

markyb_lcy said:

And with the emptier roads, do they seem more keen to give chase than they ordinarily would?

I can imagine they stick out a fair bit. I wonder if dealers are doing as much business as they normally would. Or maybe even a bit more, or a bit less. One of those things I guess it’s impossible to gauge.

I wouldn't say more keen to give chase, as each individual pursuit is constantly risk assessed with that risk assessment changing from second to second. I would say the threshold between low/medium or medium/high risk moves slightly due to the lack of vehicle and pedestrian traffic but it's certainly not being treat as a free pass for us to push the limits and hoon after people dangerously.

[markyb_lcy]

focusxr5 said:

I wouldn't say more keen to give chase, as each individual pursuit is constantly risk assessed with that risk assessment changing from second to second. I would say the threshold between low/medium or medium/high risk moves slightly due to the lack of vehicle and pedestrian traffic but it's certainly not being treat as a free pass for us to push the limits and hoon after people dangerously.

Sorry, just to clarify regarding “giving chase”, I meant the alleged crims rather than the police. Bad turn of phrase to use on my part.

[Elroy Blue]

I wish people were as keen to report crime and suspicious behaviour as they are to report their neighbours are only sat 1m apart in the garden.
Observing the lockdown is important, but there are some real batst crazy reports coming in.

[Greendubber]

Elroy Blue said:

I wish people were as keen to report crime and suspicious behaviour as they are to report their neighbours are only sat 1m apart in the garden.
Observing the lockdown is important, but there are some real batst crazy reports coming in.

Yeah I was looking earlier, madness.

[Dibble]

Blog from Belinda Goodwin from PFEW: Covid-19 an 'unprecedented challenge' for policing. I post it without comment, other than the few parts I’ve bolded.

“As the COVID-19 crisis continues, I can safely say this has been one of the most challenging periods for both the Federation and for the police service – never have I witnessed anything like this.

This is an unprecedented time for all as we battle this invisible threat – with police officers doing an extraordinary job, making decisions which they never thought they would and adjusting to new powers only introduced a few days ago.

For some it may be easy to forget that behind the uniform they are mums, dads, sons and daughters who are facing the same issues as people within their communities; whether that being caring for vulnerable relatives or sadly being off ill themselves.

A combination of juggling family life and paying the bills whilst working long, often 12-hour shifts, is a perfect storm for officers to feel overwhelmed, mentally and physically torn.

It is paramount that during this time we make both the home lives and working lives of our colleagues more manageable. This is why we been working relentlessly for our members doing their utmost around the clock to protect the public and to assist the NHS in this time of crisis.

One of the ways we have been helping is signposting them to financial help and tips from some of our policing partners on how to save and how to manage paying rent and mortgages as officers face having to live on less money, especially if them or a family member has to rely on statutory sick pay or cannot work at all.

Speak to someone! All too often, when we face financial worries, we are too afraid to talk to someone. Instead, we suffer in silence. Financial worries often lead to sleepless nights and strained relationships which is no good for our mental health or physical health. I have been there myself before and I know it is really tough, but this needs to change, and we will continue to encourage our members.

As more people tragically pass away from this virus, officers are also having to respond to more deaths. We are concerned about the long-lasting impact this will have on their mental wellbeing over the coming months as they are repeatedly exposed to these traumatic scenes.

The other week an officer responded to 15 coronavirus-related deaths in just 24 hours – and he’s certainly not the only one to be dealing with such a high volume of incidents, and this volume will undoubtedly rise.

Even more colleagues in need can now get help through our expanded Welfare Support Programme with access to a 24/7 support line staffed by trained professionals and a full-time welfare support officer who will work alongside Federation representatives to support officers and their immediate families. I am pleased to say this officer was referred to the programme and is now receiving the counselling they need.

The lack of PPE is on everyone’s lips right now, and rightly so. But the concerns of our officers have not fallen on deaf ears and the Federation has been working tirelessly over the past couple of weeks alongside chiefs to ensure they are given the right protective equipment on the frontline.

It has been frustrating at times due to a national shortage and more needs to be done - but it is promising to see face masks, hand gels and gloves starting to be delivered to police stations. Our local reps have been stepping up and are also delivering PPE to the frontline by either making deliveries to stations or handing them out to officers on the frontline from one of their welfare vans.

But we are far from the finishing line and we are continuing to work with health care professionals and forces so we can do even more to look after our colleagues during this incredibly challenging time.

We’re all in this together and with support from one another I know we can come out of the other end stronger.“

[Greendubber]

I'm amazed and disappointed that some forces are STILL struggling to supply suitable PPE to their officers. We have everything we need so it's clearly available, maybe we're just lucky.

[Pothole]

Greendubber said:

I'm amazed and disappointed that some forces are STILL struggling to supply suitable PPE to their officers. We have everything we need so it's clearly available, maybe we're just lucky.

Hmmm. Not following your logic. It WAS available and now you've got it. Those particular items are no longer available. (like me saying I've got 400 bog rolls so it's clearly available, kinda thing).

[Pothole]

markyb_lcy said:

I have read from some sources on here that the vast majority of crimes (not domestic violence) are down on their usual levels during this crisis.

I was wondering if any serving police officers or those close to serving officers could add any meat to the bone or provide any stats or observations to back that up?

Thanks.

Crime in general is down on the railways, almost certainly mostly down to lower passenger numbers and most if not all TOCs running a Sunday service (some more, some less limited IINM). I think I've seen higher than normal incidences of trespass by youths, although this is just anecdotal, it's not all down to Covid 19 closing schools but also weather-related (kids always go outside more when the weather's good and they love wandering about lineside, the dozy buggers). Far fewer mobile phone, wallet and bicycle thefts must be down to fewer people travelling and maybe the scrotes knowing they'll stand out more...still a few domestics and I'm sure there'll be a similar number of human/train interfaces. I just hope as the lockdown continues that particular figure doesn't rise too high above the norm.

[Greendubber]

Pothole said:

Hmmm. Not following your logic. It WAS available and now you've got it. Those particular items are no longer available. (like me saying I've got 400 bog rolls so it's clearly available, kinda thing).

We ordered it, it arrived, we started to run low so ordered it again last week and its started to arrive. Its different brands etc but it's still available. I doubt we've got the jump on everyone else and hoarded it all somewhere.

Why cant other forces manage that?

[Elroy Blue]

We've got hardly anything. One tiny hand sanitizer and a mask kept in the car for emergency use only. We've been told there are no replacements for the foreseeable future.
Officers are not impressed, but just getting on with it anyway

[XCP]

I was told last week that domestic violence reports were up by 21%. If I get any more figures I'll post them.