Thousands of UK police working away from frontline crime amid funding crisis

Leader of Britain's police chiefs Gavin Stephens says policing is still being damaged by austerity

Police forces are still being damaged by government cuts, with 6,000 officers having to work away from frontline crime fighting to fill gaps caused by a funding crisis, police chiefs have said.

Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said police were cutting crime but faced severe funding pressures and a 3.2bn cash shortfall.