All of you who have signed should give yourself a massive pat on the back. This petition after only 11 days since it was launched has secured over a quarter of a million signatures. That is just incredible. Please continue to sign and share and to lobby your local MP with the petition. We MUST make them act now and debate this issue. WE NEED A ROYAL COMMISSION ON POLICING.

Here is a short rhyme written by an anonymous serving female officer. This highlights why we need to act now in order to secure policing in this country for the future:

Little Old Me - One Police UK

Little old me, female cop I am,
And I think it's time I put up my hand.
I'm exhausted, I'm tired and I've had enough,
I now do it for the money and not for the love.
The money is rubbish but it gets me by,
I've almost give up and I'll tell you why.

I joined the cops to help, my mum was so proud,
It's not the job it once was, we're all under a cloud.
I'm 27 next week - only 4 years in the job,
But after many a day I've done nothing but sob.
Last week I was hit, spat at and punched,
There wasn't one day that I ate my lunch.
I held a man's hand who'd just lost his wife,
I took a child from his Father who was wielding a knife.
I pulled a girl off a bridge who was mentally ill,
I locked up a worker who had nicked from the till.
I persuaded a battered woman to finally speak,
After seeing her every day, week after week.

The above is my job and I'm proud to do it,
Time for a few truths, which comes in the next bit.
Grade 1, man with knife - not one cop is free,
But I break off as usual, little old me.
I get to the job, a lone female I stand,
Man is angry, wants to fight with a knife in his hand.
The same night I attend a fight all alone,
I arrive to see 10 fighting in the middle of the road.

I could go on - but my point you will see,
Is there's not much I can do - little old me.
Night after night cops go to jobs on their own,
And yes, they are frightened stood there all alone.
Because no one is coming - you're the only free one,
New cops aren't coming, the old ones are gone.

I love my job - but enough is enough,
I'm ready to go and pack up my stuff,
Hang up my belt, my hat and my vest,
No one can say we're not trying our best.
I'm abused for pennies that barely pay my rent,
I'm sorry for this but I needed to vent.
You might say 'leave! - no ones making you stay!'
But if we all leave who will keep the baddies at bay?
We don't want to give up - we still want to be cops!
But bad things will happen if they don't pull out all stops.

Get us more cops so we're not always alone,
I know others feel the same - I'm not on my own.
Cops will get hurt if this carries on,
And this fight on terrorism will never be won.
Please help us say single crewing should stop,
Regards, one very exhausted 26 year old cop!
- Anonymous

Says it all doesn't it?!

#supportfuturepolicing