POLICE officers in North Yorkshire have backed calls for an end to red tape.

North Yorkshire's branch of the Police Federation believes there is too much bureaucracy facing its officers.

It was echoing the sentiments of police superintendents across the UK.

An independent survey of the views of the senior officers in England and Wales, conducted as part of a major report into police reform, has revealed startling levels of dissatisfaction among commanders.

The survey was conducted for a report Fitting The Bill: Local Policing For The 21st Century, which is published today.

It found:

  • 71 per cent of superintendents believe the Home Office's reporting requirements have a negative impact on the quality of policing in their area - and only 12 per cent regard the targets as helpful
  • 85 per cent of superintendents regard the number of officers unavailable for operational duties as a problem
  • Almost two-thirds of commanders (61 per cent) complain they have too little control over resources, increasing the strain on them as they try to meet the demands of their local community
  • 80 per cent of superintendents think the balance of resources between police headquarters and local command units is wrong
  • 49 per cent said training for management roles was inadequate.

Police Federation Secretary Mal Taylor said: "There is far too much bureaucracy about and anything that cuts bureaucracy would be welcomed by the police federation."

They have also called for an end to "micro-management" by senior officers - which has been implemented to ensure the force hits Government targets.

The federation wants more discretion returned to individual members.

Policy Exchange research director Gavin Lockhart, who carried out the study, said: "Despite council tax increases and a barrage of legislation, fewer than a quarter of people believe that policing in their area has improved.

"The perception that forces are tied up in red tape and political correctness seems to be borne out in reality."