"Our full shift has not materialised because two are off sick, one is on light duties because she is pregnant and one has been pulled off to support increased anti-terrorist coverage. We are at minimum staffing levels."

"The computer system is slow but at least it hasn't crashed today. It has been a busy night and we therefore have to take over 'open' jobs from the night shift."

"As there were several incidents overnight, the cells are full and officers are queuing with their prisoners to use the fingerprinting and photographic facilities.

"I also wait for the custody sergeant to complete the initial processing enquiries that were impossible last night because the prisoners were too intoxicated.

"The processing takes three-and-a-half hours, including a total of two hours' waiting time."

"Two cases I have worked on have gone to a 'not guilty' plea. The Criminal Justice Unit is short staffed and has asked me to take my own witness statements and chase forensics."

Officers talk of having to leave victims too soon to complete paperwork

"I am called off my enquiries to attend a shoplifting ...The offender is apprehended for stealing a sandwich and a can of coke. The paperwork for the case takes me an hour-and-a-half."

"I am called to a reported robbery. The victim is a confused, elderly lady ...I would like to spend more time with her than I do but know I have to get the enquiries' paperwork done before the end of my shift."

"As a WPC, I am asked to attend the searching of a female prisoner. I am concerned to get back out on the street as the pubs are about to pour out. Unfortunately though, I'm stuck in the custody suite for 45 minutes."

"I'm called to help locate a missing 12-year-old. He is well known to the police as this is the third time this month he has run away from his foster home. I spend the next 45 minutes filling in the missing persons' form. Despite the frequency of the event, it is not possible to transfer over information from existing documentation."