Cops blasted for picking up litter from streets instead of tackling crime
COPS have been blasted for tackling litter on duty instead of rising crime.
Officers proudly posted photos online of them picking up rubbish from streets and dumping it in a skip.
They claim the week-long move was to “engage with the local community”.
Yet local crime is up 13 per cent in a year and cops have no suspect in 41 per cent of offences.
Their cash-hit Staffordshire force has lost one in four cops in five years and faces £13.7million cuts next year.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis hinted stations may shut and said: “I’ve a budget challenge.
"I would rather spend money on officers and staff than buildings.”
One outraged Twitter user said of the collection in Longton, Staffs: “Who was doing the policing while you were doing the council’s job? Disgraceful waste of time.”
Another added: “Would time not be better spent enforcing the litter laws?”
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But Sgt Nathan Hough said of the scheme: “Although it focused on crime, the major driving force was to engage with the community and look at what concerns they have.
“One concern highlighted was litter.
So a litter pick-up took place with residents and schools helping our environmental team.”
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