Do you think that some people who are willing to burn an effigy such as this would also be those committing more serious crimes? If police can intervene at less severe level and stop more severe crime then isn't that the best way of doing their job?
Of course part of the equation is whether there is time to do different things to reduce crime overall or if you have to focus resources, and then do you focus resources on what might have the widest impact of prevention or simply reacting to severe crimes. Where do you find the right balance? I don't know and police chiefs, somewhat inevitably, always ask for more which might then distract from other areas of the UK needing financial support.
Everythong we discuss takes some level of direction from chosen political policy so you can't ignore it.