Police job cut proposals backed by force authority

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) logo

Plans to deliver £134m savings over the next four years within Greater Manchester Police have today (Monday 22 November 2010) been presented to the Force’s Police Authority.

The proposals show if current projections are confirmed the number of posts within GMP could reduce by around 2,950 between 2011 and 2015 with approximately 750 staff posts and 309 police officer posts lost in the first year (2011/2012).

In 2012/2013, projections show that posts could reduce by around 627. Beyond then, the impact on employees is less certain as the amount of money provided for policing by the Government at that time is not yet clear.

In addition to achieving savings through a reduction in posts, new ways of working will be implemented, management costs will reduce, recruitment will continue to be frozen and options which require police officers, who cannot be made redundant, to retire after 30 years’ service may be considered.

GMPA Chairman Councillor Paul Murphy said: “This is an unprecedented situation which we do not want to be in but we must face reality. We are legally bound to set a balanced budget and with the scale of savings required in an organisation where more than 80% of the budget is spent on people, it is inevitable that the number of posts will be affected.

“This is extremely difficult. We do not underestimate the impact this will have on people who have worked hard for many years to make Greater Manchester a safer place. Their welfare is paramount and that’s why things such as voluntary redundancy, extended notice periods and support in getting back into the jobs market have been so important for us.”

All of the staff and the majority of the police officer posts removed in 2011/2012 are from office functions. The changes will contribute to £52m savings in the first year of a four year strategy, £13m of which will be achieved through non-staff savings.

A further £82m savings must be made in the years which follow and workforce modernisation and efficiency plans will be accelerated to ensure they are realised and GMP has the right people in the right place at the right time.

The plans are not new. They were developed before the budget cuts were announced as part of GMPA and GMP’s commitment to reduce bureaucracy, maximise frontline resources, improve ways of working and provide a value for money police service.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “We have been working for some time on plans to ensure we provide the most efficient service with the maximum possible effort focused on serving and protecting the public. We will be doing everything possible to support the staff who are affected and find them other roles within the Force.”