Police braced for job cuts

GMP Logo

Greater Manchester Police is expected to lose almost a quarter of its staff over the next four years.

The move comes as a bid to save £134m over the four year period 2011/12 – 2014/15.

Savings of £52m will need to be found in the next financial year (2011/12).

A joint report from the Chief Constable Peter Fahy and Greater Manchester Police Authority reads: “It is likely that there will be a 23% reduction in employee numbers over the four year period 2011/2012 – 2014/2015.”

Staff numbers are anticipated to reduce by 2,944 during the next four financial years.

The authority will discuss the proposals next Monday (22 November 2010).

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: "We have been working for some time on plans to ensure the Force provides the most efficient service and the maximum resources are focused on frontline policing. The Force, as with other public services, is also facing a big financial challenge.

"Protecting frontline policing is at the heart of the plans we have been developing. There is a wider programme to modernise the Force that has been underway for some time. It is making changes that are improving our performance in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and increasing public confidence.

"The report to Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) outlines the projected savings of £134 million that are likely to be required over the next four years. As the majority of our money is spent on staff it is inevitable that there will be an impact on our people.

"Reducing the corporate costs, which have been higher than comparable organisations, is at the heart of the current work. The report outlines the details that have been finalised and are being outlined to affected staff in the coming days.

"We will be doing everything possible to support those affected and find them other roles within the Force and while approximately 400 posts will be lost we are hoping most will be through voluntary redundancy and staff being moved to vacant posts. The posts will be removed from the corporate headquarters from the beginning of the next financial year, with the loss of a further 350 police staff posts from operational support departments during 2011/12.

"There will be a reduction of 309 police officer posts, with 244 from the back and support offices. The officers in those roles will be moved to frontline policing as officers cannot be made redundant.

"While the situation is obviously unsettling the end result will be more resources put into frontline policing and a more efficient and effective service for the people of Greater Manchester.

"The proposed changes to corporate departments, together with the projected impact of the financial situation in the coming years, will be presented to GMPA at a special meeting on Monday 22 November."