It started to go wrong decades ago when numbers were adequate at best and then the requirement to patrol on either foot or in a car was reformed to a style of 'fire brigade' policing, where plod only went out when an incident occurred requiring attendance.
That 'attendance' slowly reverted to staying put and attending not at the time, but afterwards and once it was known that there was no deterrent out there to readily sort out crime or anti social behaviour, it flourished.
The old mantra of 'prevention and detection of crime' disappeared many years ago and today it is neither prevented or detected.
The old fashioned but effective idea of plod on the beat talking to the public and getting to know who was up to what has been replaced by halfwits who can probably not even string a decent communication together.
My old mate, Bill Coates, was a community plod who lived in the area where he worked. He knew everyone in the village and they all knew him.
He was famous for having a pocket book that he only renewed once a year because he put very little in it. Instead, with his ear to the ground and catching up on gossip in the street or the pubs (usually on duty !),he was able to nip things in the bud before they ever affected anyone. That was prevention at it's best, with nothing to detect if it hadn't been allowed to happen in the first place.
When a halfwit Inspector arrived, he looked at Bill's 'level of productivity' and decided that pre-retirement he should be given a non-existent post in the front office of the nick. He wasn't replaced and with no surprise, crime became increased in his old beat.
The writing was on the wall (criminal damage?) to my memory as early as the 70's when in an attempt to massage crime figures a Form 130 existed. For any form of damage under £20, it was recorded on a form 130. It took about 10 seconds to complete and it wasn't recorded as a crime.
It was no surprise when a member of the public rang in to say someone had slashed a car tyre and the value was recorded at £19.95p.
Today, joe public does not even ring a crime in because, in the first instance, even ongoing, no-one wants to attend, then if it has to be recorded, a letter will be sent to say "We are sorry you are a victim of crime."
It goes on to give details of agencies who may assist with counselling and of course the reference number to quote to insurance companies.
Meanwhile, in West Yorkshire, all the local town nicks have been closed. My first posting is now a Farmfoods shop and our traffic office is now the Dairy section. Instead, we have 'super' stations which means if half a dozen or more have been closed, one new super station can be built to take their place.
With everything under one roof, it is very simple maths to calculate how many officers of all skills and ranks existed in total at the singular stations, then find out how many are now posted at the super station. It is much less.
Natural wastage due to retirements etc have not been replenished and god forbid you live in an outlying area covered by a super station and need urgent attendance, you won't get it.
Way before my time the old 'city' Police existed. Leeds City, Wakefield City etc.
From what I was told, they worked well and much better than the amalgamation of them which became West Yorkshire plod.
Now, there's an idea? Won't happen.