Mention of Police cuts also ought to consider the wasted time of the police and to consider recovering the costs.

For instance, six coppers needed to restrain and arrest a drunk and the same number needed to get him (it's virtually always a bloke) out of the van and in to the cop-shop then the same number needed to get him in to a cell.

Often, the fine for such an episode bears no relationship to the needless cost of the wasted time.

Also, drunken drivers who refuse to take a breath test. The waste of time and resources ought to be paid for along with a more realistic ban.

Such recoveries might go some way to preventing (or reversing?) any cuts?