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Police chiefs warn against 'front-loading' expected spending cuts Police chiefs warn against 'front-loading' expected spending cuts
(35 minutes later)
Chief constables have privately warned senior ministers not to “front-load” the 25% or more in police spending cuts expected to be announced by George Osborne on Wednesday because many forces would be unable to reduce their officer numbers fast enough.Chief constables have privately warned senior ministers not to “front-load” the 25% or more in police spending cuts expected to be announced by George Osborne on Wednesday because many forces would be unable to reduce their officer numbers fast enough.
An unpublished submission to the chancellor and home secretary by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) warns that cutting budgets “too deep or too fast” will lead to “perverse impacts” such as “reverse civilianisation” in which uniformed officers are put into police staff roles simply to meet workforce reduction targets. An unpublished submission to the chancellor and home secretary by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) warns that cutting budgets “too deep or too fast” will lead to “perverse impacts” such as “reverse civilianisation”, in which uniformed officers are put into police staff roles simply to meet workforce reduction targets.
Police officer and staff numbers have already fallen by more than 37,000 to bring the total workforce to 207,140 over the past five years as a result of a 20% cut in Whitehall grants to forces. The reduction included a 17,000 decrease in the number of uniformed officers and a 20,000 cut in civilian police staff who do not enjoy the same legal protection as constables against compulsory redundancy.Police officer and staff numbers have already fallen by more than 37,000 to bring the total workforce to 207,140 over the past five years as a result of a 20% cut in Whitehall grants to forces. The reduction included a 17,000 decrease in the number of uniformed officers and a 20,000 cut in civilian police staff who do not enjoy the same legal protection as constables against compulsory redundancy.
Related: The Guardian view on security and the spending review: no case for a policing U-turn | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on security and the spending review: no case for a policing U-turn | Editorial
It is now widely expected that the 43 forces in England and Wales will face a further 25% cut in Whitehall funding by 2020, leading to warnings that a further 20,000 police jobs will disappear.It is now widely expected that the 43 forces in England and Wales will face a further 25% cut in Whitehall funding by 2020, leading to warnings that a further 20,000 police jobs will disappear.
The NPCC say that virtually all forces believe they will no longer employ police community support officers by 2020.The NPCC say that virtually all forces believe they will no longer employ police community support officers by 2020.
“The four year cuts we now face are even larger than the cuts we have already sustained. They also need to be delivered in a shorter timescale, when the less impactive savings have already been made,” said the police chiefs in their formal submission “The four-year cuts we now face are even larger than the cuts we have already sustained. They also need to be delivered in a shorter timescale, when the less impactive savings have already been made,” said the police chiefs in their formal submission
The NPCC submission to the comprehensive spending review was made before serious negotiations got underway between Osborne and Theresa May.The NPCC submission to the comprehensive spending review was made before serious negotiations got underway between Osborne and Theresa May.
The chief constables say they agree with ministers that the changing nature of crime – including cybercrime and online fraud and child sexual abuse – means more specialist and varied skills are needed at a time when faced with an ageing workforce.The chief constables say they agree with ministers that the changing nature of crime – including cybercrime and online fraud and child sexual abuse – means more specialist and varied skills are needed at a time when faced with an ageing workforce.
The NPCC submission says: “Beyond 25% grant cuts, few forces will be able to recruit officers over the next four years. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many younger officers are leaving early in their careers attracted by higher immediate salaries and pay increases elsewhere. For example 46 mid-service constables left Greater Manchester police in one month. We need greater flexibility to bring in new skills into our organisation to manage the new and emerging risks that we face.”The NPCC submission says: “Beyond 25% grant cuts, few forces will be able to recruit officers over the next four years. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many younger officers are leaving early in their careers attracted by higher immediate salaries and pay increases elsewhere. For example 46 mid-service constables left Greater Manchester police in one month. We need greater flexibility to bring in new skills into our organisation to manage the new and emerging risks that we face.”
The police chiefs add that they are unable to rely on “natural wastage” such as retirements and voluntary departures to bridge their budget gap. Not enough officers are scheduled to leave over the next four years to enable forces to make the cuts, while a proposed £95,000 cap on public sector severance payments is likely to make the situation worse.The police chiefs add that they are unable to rely on “natural wastage” such as retirements and voluntary departures to bridge their budget gap. Not enough officers are scheduled to leave over the next four years to enable forces to make the cuts, while a proposed £95,000 cap on public sector severance payments is likely to make the situation worse.
The NPCC submission says there is “considerable, albeit reluctant, support for compulsory redundancy to be available to manage significant cuts” amongs chief constables. The NPCC submission says there is “considerable, albeit reluctant, support for compulsory redundancy to be available to manage significant cuts” among chief constables.
Any move to change the law to make police officers redundant could easily spark renewed turbulence with the Police Federation. The chief constables took the suggestion off the table three weeks ago when they discussed the issue, but say in their submission that the “position might need to be reviewed in response to the police settlement in the spending review”.Any move to change the law to make police officers redundant could easily spark renewed turbulence with the Police Federation. The chief constables took the suggestion off the table three weeks ago when they discussed the issue, but say in their submission that the “position might need to be reviewed in response to the police settlement in the spending review”.
May has left open the door to the introduction of compulsory redundancy for police officers in her forthcoming police and criminal justice bill but has made clear she prefers to see the savings made by intensifying the pace of police reform.May has left open the door to the introduction of compulsory redundancy for police officers in her forthcoming police and criminal justice bill but has made clear she prefers to see the savings made by intensifying the pace of police reform.
“We must go further to drive deeper collaboration, better sharing of back-office services and a more intelligent approach to where police capabilities sit to generate savings without the loss of local accountability and identity,” the home secretary told MPs earlier this month.“We must go further to drive deeper collaboration, better sharing of back-office services and a more intelligent approach to where police capabilities sit to generate savings without the loss of local accountability and identity,” the home secretary told MPs earlier this month.
She has made clear she wants to see deeper collaboration with the fire and ambulance services, forces sharing firearms and dog units and much greater use of mobile technology. She has warned that the cuts will mean “fewer buildings, fewer staff and less room for error”, but says she believes more can be delivered for less without the roof falling in.She has made clear she wants to see deeper collaboration with the fire and ambulance services, forces sharing firearms and dog units and much greater use of mobile technology. She has warned that the cuts will mean “fewer buildings, fewer staff and less room for error”, but says she believes more can be delivered for less without the roof falling in.