Police march in protest in London

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The Police Federation of England and Wales has confirmed it organised the protest to highlight concerns about the consequences of a 20 to 30 per cent Government cut to police budgets on public safety and concerns this will result in more crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
A sea of 16,000 black caps were set to show-case the exact number of police officers the public will lose over the next four years as a result of the cuts.
The march commenced at 12pm at Millbank, London passing the Home Office, Parliament Square, Whitehall (Downing Street), Trafalgar Square, and will terminate at Waterloo Place.
Paul McKeever Chairman, Police Federation of England and Wales said:
“The march is the only way that police officers can demonstrate their anger. We have been inundated with messages of support from our colleagues who cannot attend due to their work commitments. The officers marching are doing so in their own time, that’s how strongly they feel. Some will have been travelling since 4am to ensure they can take part.
The reality of the cuts to policing is really beginning to bite; numbers are beginning to fall rapidly. In the past year alone, we have lost over 5,200 police officers from the frontline and we are witnessing the privatisation of core policing roles as chief officers struggle to cope with budget restraints. The government need to be realistic about the outcome of severe cuts to policing; we cannot afford to compromise on public safety.”
Shopworkers union, Usdaw has sent a strong message of support to police officers involved in the march in London today.
Police officers cannot strike, the last police strike in this country was in 1918 and 1919, following which they were banned from striking again.