Police consider removing TVs to save money, sparking backlash over potential morale decline and cost-cutting measures.
The police estimate they could save £10,000 yearly from license fees. One officer expressed concern that welfare might suffer. Many readers, however, think this cost-cutting is advantageous and that the money could improve other areas.
Some readers find the proposal ridiculous, suggesting officers use their phones instead. Others expressed a lack of sympathy for police officers in this situation. One person pointed out that most workplaces don’t have TVs, while another questioned the need for TVs at a police station.
A TV license currently costs £169.50 annually, and music licenses cost £195 each year. The police are reviewing the situation, aiming to reduce building costs and checking all available opportunities for savings.
An officer said morale would suffer and that officers rarely get full breaks due to their workload. This decision, if implemented, would impact all police buildings. Some readers, in contrast, support keeping the TVs and radios.
One person suggested voluntary contributions, mentioning a potential £3 yearly contribution from each staff member. James Hunt suggested officers pay themselves, noting that his workplace doesn’t allow radios.
One reader believes £10,000 is a small amount compared to government waste elsewhere, calling it spiteful penny-pinching. Another user suggested a police exemption, while someone else joked about EastEnders potentially delaying officers.