Will the obvious cuts to the police budgets mean an increase in insurance premiums?

No I don't think there will be an increase in insurance premiums due to cuts in Police budgets....now that is scaremongering. And whilst those senior officers might be predicting a cut in front line services (PCSO'S will undoubtedly be affected as a lot of the funding for them comes from local government) that is just not the case when it comes to Police Officers, and whilst they may want the public to believe this is what the cuts will mean, in reality there has not been enough front line Police Officers for many years. Lancashire Constabulary have to find 4% savings over the next 4 years, 16% in total. I think this is quite an achievable figure. Much of this will be saved on 'natural wastage' through retirement and other reasons. There has been a hold on recruitment for the last 2 years and this may well continue for the foreseeable future. Many of those senior officers are no doubt worried about their own positions as with any large organizations it is very top heavy at senior management level. If the figures are to be believed (certainly in Lancashire) there has been a reduction in recorded crime....I certainly hope that this is the opportunity the police service as a whole has been waiting for in order to bring a more streamlined efficient service to members of the public without reducing the number of front line Police Officers.

Only time will tell and I pray that a reduction in police manning ( and hence their evidence on the street ) doesn't automatically lead to an increase in lawlessness. Insurance rates obviously depend on claim rates and crime and claims did rise as a result of the government police cuts, would the government be classed as 'culpibly neglectful' in their duty of care. Interesting point! But there are other things that will also lead to an increase in crime and lawlessness ... and many of these the government may well cause ... such as lack of employment, job prospects, cuts in social benefits, poorer housing, lack of housing .... all things that may make people feel impoverished and turn to crime for vengeance or simple survival. The new government have stated that life is going to become as people have never known and I think they are right. Discomfort in every facet of our lives will creep in for all but the cherished few. I just hope that I am wrong!

I don't think so. When people think of making cuts to the police force the first thing that springs to mind is cutting the front-line officers, but this is unlikely to be the case. There are so many different areas to the police force that there are numerous areas that can be made more efficient. Yes we will likely see some cuts in front-line officers through natural wastage as mentioned by Frenchwoodgirl however I cannot see how this will suddenly create a lawless society leading to knock on affects. I am sure the government would soon reconsider if this were the case!

No, I don't think so. I suspect that a lot of the police budget goes on the masses of form-filling that has to be done to indicate whether various government targets have been reached. If this can be managed better then I see no reason for reducing front-line services. I'm sure that anyone joining the police does so to be at the front line, not to do paperwork in the office, so the sooner this is simplified the better. We should all do our best to be vigilent in our own neighbourhoods and to help the police by reporting anti-social behaviour rather than turning a blind eye.

I believe that any significant levels of police cuts in will dramatically lead to far greater levels of crime in the affected areas but not necessarily accompanied with similar % increases of insurance premiums.The insurance premiums are usually already factored.