Forces should cut officer numbers and use tech to fight crime, police chief says

Finance lead for England and Wales police chiefs says focus on officers gets in way of making better use of budgets

Police forces should be allowed to cut officer numbers and spend more money on technology to boost crime fighting, a police chief has said.

Chief constable Paul Sanford, who leads for police chiefs on finances, said there was an obsession with officer numbers, even though it would often be more effective to have fewer officers supported by better technology.