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Warning of cuts in police numbers Warning of cuts in police numbers
(about 4 hours later)
The new president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is to warn cuts in the number of police officers and staff is becoming a "reality". The incoming president of the Association of Chief Police Officers is to warn cuts in the number of police officers is becoming a "reality".
Sir Hugh Orde will say many police authorities are "feeling the strain" at a meeting in Manchester later. Sir Hugh Orde will say many police authorities are "feeling the strain" at a meeting in Manchester on Tuesday.
In his first speech as president, Sir Hugh is also expected to criticise proposals to have publicly elected officials running police forces. He told the BBC the economic situation had put inevitable pressure on budgets.
In his first speech as head of Acpo, Sir Hugh is also expected to criticise proposals to have publicly elected officials running police forces.
He will warn of "real difficulties" if funding is further cut.He will warn of "real difficulties" if funding is further cut.
The police service has benefited from high levels of government investment, with record numbers of police and community support officers. Frontline commitment
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the meeting, Sir Hugh said: "We are now getting to a stage where we have squeezed and squeezed, and in any organisation where about 80% of your costs are people, the pressure will now inevitably fall on people.
"So we again have to look very carefully at how we use technology and how we do things more effectively if we are to maintain the frontline service delivery we are committed to doing."
The police service has benefited from high levels of government investment in recent years, with record numbers of police and community support officers.
But over this financial year and next police have to find efficiency savings of about 7%.But over this financial year and next police have to find efficiency savings of about 7%.
Sir Hugh will say that the prospect of cuts in officer and staff numbers to keep running costs down, is "fast becoming a reality", with "real difficulties" if funding is cut after 2011. Sir Hugh, who officially takes over as president in September after leading the Police Service of Northern Ireland for seven years, will say that the prospect of staff cuts to keep costs down, is "fast becoming a reality", with "real difficulties" if funding is cut after 2011.
He will also address plans supported by the Conservatives to replace police authorities with directly-elected commissioners, saying "every professional bone" in his body tells him it is a "bad idea".He will also address plans supported by the Conservatives to replace police authorities with directly-elected commissioners, saying "every professional bone" in his body tells him it is a "bad idea".
Sir Hugh began his policing career with the Metropolitan Police in 1977, initially serving in central London.
He became commander for crime in south-west London in 1998, and developed Operation Trident, which targets drugs-related gun crime in black communities.
Sir Hugh was appointed chief constable for Northern Ireland in 2002, and named the new president of Acpo in April this year.