[noir_lord]

The government has cut police budgets in real terms massively over the last decade or so.

Even if they wanted to current police forces simply lack the resources, they've (the gov) also juggled the crime stats so it looks like crime has stayed steady or declined (hence they can 'justify' the cuts).

The UK is in a complete shambles at the moment.

Years of unnecessary austerity combined with a government determined to privatise everything no matter what the actual (if any) benefit on ideological grounds has left it that way..but we keep voting for them and so we get the government we deserve* (*which we wouldn't have if we could get rid of our stupid first past the post voting system).