Police cuts will see chief superintendent role merged in Rochdale and Bury

Chief Supt Annette Anderson

Greater Manchester Police is cutting some of its highest-ranking officers to save money and the role of chief superindent in Bury and Rochdale will be merged.

Bury will lose Chief Superindent Tim Forber, and Rochdale's current chief super, Annette Anderson will assume the role for both towns.

The decision was relayed by letter to local authority chief executives by GMP chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy.

In his letter Sir Peter said: “We need to question whether our structure and our organisational culture is fit for the financial and operational challenge we face.

“I need to reduce levels of management and change our traditional reliance on rank and hierarchy.

“We need to move from command and control to expecting higher professional standards and pushing responsibility down.”

The number of chief superintendents in charge of the 10 divisions of Greater Manchester is to halve as the role is also merged in other areas.

In September 2013 it emerged that GMP could be forced to axe 700 officer posts as the latest round of cost-cutting announced by Chancellor George Osborne meant another £66m worth of savings had to be made.

The cuts, which equate to 10% of its budget, are due to come into force over a three-year period from 2014-15.

GMP will not replace police officers who retire or leave and a recruitment freeze will be put in place.

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said it was the "biggest challenge GMP has ever faced".