As a police officer, I can tell you today's crime statistics are a reminder of the stark reality we face on the streets every day

We often get accused of painting a gloomy picture – but so would you if you saw what we do day-in, day-out

Under-resourced police face brutality every hour of every day, says Calum Macleod (File photo) (Getty)

Should the public be worried about today’s crime stats? Well the simple answer is yes. This isn’t us scaremongering, the facts are there for all to see. Violent crime is significantly up (19 per cent), so too are the crimes which have traditionally been on a downward trend for decades, including theft (up 11 per cent).

All too often we are criticised for painting a picture of dark skies with a bleak outlook ahead – but how can we not when faced with these dire figures.

As downbeat and discouraging as this sounds, it’s the stark reality of policing at this time. The service is flatlining.

We’re not a lone voice. Even the police chiefs have described the double-digit increases as worrying. More startling is when you scratch underneath the surface. In the last 12 months alone, knife crime has risen by 26 per cent, affecting an extra 7,500 victims and their families.

As a response the Government will always outline all it has done to help policing in recent years, with investment in counter terrorism, improving police powers and protecting budgets – but still, crime is rising. We have been told that boots on the ground is not the be all and end all. That we should change our ways and embrace technology. We agree, but this can only offer so much.

In the summer the Home Office workforce stats showed police numbers are at their lowest since 1985. Something is out of kilter. We are understaffed and under-resourced to cope with the demands of modern-day policing, which includes not only being a police officer but a social worker, paramedic and counsellor all under one hat, as they suffer a similar state of affairs.

I have been an officer for 23 years. I have been spat at, punched, attacked with weapons – but since we launched our Protect the Protectors campaign this year, aiming to better safeguard our officers, even I did not realise the true extent and sheer level of brutality colleagues face every hour of every day.

The stats show a change is needed not next month or next year but now.

Officers will never stop doing their jobs but unless urgent investment is made they might not have that choice. Poor welfare and low morale is leaving officers on the brink of exhaustion, much like our service.

Calum Macleod is a serving police officer with 23 years’ experience working for both Strathclyde Police and South Wales Police. He is currently vice chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales which represents rank and file police officers