I spent my last few years in the 'job' examining the service to ascertain where financial cuts could be made. There was no easy answer. Visible policing has suffered as a result and every fit officer is working extremely hard out of the gaze of the general public to meet the tidal wave of work that come sin on a daily basis.
Policing is now quasi enforcement/welfare and social services rolled into one. It is extremely accountable and huge sums of money go into dotting every I and crossing every T - otherwise a failed investigation hits the headlines and the force takes another battering through a sensationalising media.
The Tories loved castigating the police at every turn to gain support from the public for the cuts. Well we now have what everyone wished for; an extremely thin blue line that will not attend all crimes and some more serious ones such as dwelling burglary may be desk top managed.
As for proactive work? Well that is why you do not see a traffic officer - there is not the capacity in the organisation to do it to any great degree.
