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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cash woe halts police recruitment | Cash woe halts police recruitment |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The vacancy freeze comes in with immediate effect | The vacancy freeze comes in with immediate effect |
| Scotland's largest police force is bringing in an immediate recruitment freeze in response to ongoing uncertainty over its budget. | Scotland's largest police force is bringing in an immediate recruitment freeze in response to ongoing uncertainty over its budget. |
| Strathclyde Police said the move would cover police officers and civilian staff. | Strathclyde Police said the move would cover police officers and civilian staff. |
| A planned intake of 100 probationary officers to the Scottish Police College between August and October will not now go-ahead. | A planned intake of 100 probationary officers to the Scottish Police College between August and October will not now go-ahead. |
| Up to 30 applicants may still be called upon if suitable vacancies arise. | Up to 30 applicants may still be called upon if suitable vacancies arise. |
| Strathclyde Police is the latest Scottish force to announce a vacancy freeze in the face of funding concerns. | |
| In January, Northern Constabulary put recruitment on hold before hiring 20 new officers in May. Although the force had no formal freeze policy recruitment would only take place to maintain current numbers. | |
| Lothian and Borders Police introduced a vacancy freeze in April in response to "looming cuts". A force spokesman said that "the harsh reality is that our organisation must get smaller". | |
| On Tuesday, Strathclyde Police said the recruitment of officers would be suspended after the current intake of 65 probationary officers later this month. | |
| John Gillies, director of human resources for the force, said: "The public sector is facing an unprecedented period of financial challenge and Scottish policing is not going to be immune to that. | John Gillies, director of human resources for the force, said: "The public sector is facing an unprecedented period of financial challenge and Scottish policing is not going to be immune to that. |
| "While we don't know exactly the scale of the cuts that we will be facing, early indications are that it could be anywhere up to 10% of our budget in the next financial year. We have to prepare for that. | "While we don't know exactly the scale of the cuts that we will be facing, early indications are that it could be anywhere up to 10% of our budget in the next financial year. We have to prepare for that. |
| "We have more or less stopped recruiting police staff over the past few months and today we are formalising that. We also have to be realistic about the number of officers we can afford to recruit at this time of uncertainty." | "We have more or less stopped recruiting police staff over the past few months and today we are formalising that. We also have to be realistic about the number of officers we can afford to recruit at this time of uncertainty." |
| Mr Giles said that there had been "a massive expansion in police officer numbers" in the past few years. | Mr Giles said that there had been "a massive expansion in police officer numbers" in the past few years. |
| Police pledge | |
| He said "protecting these frontline services" would be an "absolute priority" in any future decisions taken. | He said "protecting these frontline services" would be an "absolute priority" in any future decisions taken. |
| Strathclyde Police has 8,410 officers paid for out of its own budget and those of other bodies. | Strathclyde Police has 8,410 officers paid for out of its own budget and those of other bodies. |
| A Scottish government spokesperson said the force's recruitment of additional officers in recent years had been "impressive" despite spending cuts from Westminster. | A Scottish government spokesperson said the force's recruitment of additional officers in recent years had been "impressive" despite spending cuts from Westminster. |
| "We have already delivered a record number of police officers in Scotland - a total of 17,409 - and our 1,000 additional police officers pledge by the end of this parliament has been met ahead of schedule, with 1,175 more officers now compared to March 2007," he said. | "We have already delivered a record number of police officers in Scotland - a total of 17,409 - and our 1,000 additional police officers pledge by the end of this parliament has been met ahead of schedule, with 1,175 more officers now compared to March 2007," he said. |
| "This pledge remains absolutely on track - despite the spending cuts of the previous and present UK government at Westminster - which is a fantastic achievement delivered by the police and Scottish government working in partnership." | "This pledge remains absolutely on track - despite the spending cuts of the previous and present UK government at Westminster - which is a fantastic achievement delivered by the police and Scottish government working in partnership." |
| Meanwhile, Scottish Labour has called for a public statement from Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and repeated calls for him to publish an independent projection study on police numbers. | Meanwhile, Scottish Labour has called for a public statement from Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and repeated calls for him to publish an independent projection study on police numbers. |
| The party's justice spokesman, Richard Baker, said: "The decision by Scotland's largest police force to freeze recruitment comes today because they have been let down by the Scottish government. | The party's justice spokesman, Richard Baker, said: "The decision by Scotland's largest police force to freeze recruitment comes today because they have been let down by the Scottish government. |
| "For the past year Strathclyde Police Authority has been warning that it was not receiving adequate funding to maintain recruitment. | "For the past year Strathclyde Police Authority has been warning that it was not receiving adequate funding to maintain recruitment. |
| "Sadly, this plea has fallen on deaf ears and the SNP's desperate attempts to blame Westminster cuts will not wash." | "Sadly, this plea has fallen on deaf ears and the SNP's desperate attempts to blame Westminster cuts will not wash." |
| The Scottish Conservatives urged Strathclyde Police to do all it could to retain front line officers but said the need for savings was inevitable in light of "Labour's massive debt legacy". | The Scottish Conservatives urged Strathclyde Police to do all it could to retain front line officers but said the need for savings was inevitable in light of "Labour's massive debt legacy". |
| The party's justice spokesman, John Lamont, said: "Scottish Conservatives forced 1,000 extra police as a concession from the SNP government because we know that a more visible police presence is the best way of deterring crime. | The party's justice spokesman, John Lamont, said: "Scottish Conservatives forced 1,000 extra police as a concession from the SNP government because we know that a more visible police presence is the best way of deterring crime. |
| "Strathclyde Police has already exceeded its part of this national target and we would urge that its numbers do not fall below its share of the 1,000 figure, which is 457. | "Strathclyde Police has already exceeded its part of this national target and we would urge that its numbers do not fall below its share of the 1,000 figure, which is 457. |
| "Labour's dreadful legacy means there are tough choices ahead and we will do all we can to help our dedicated police forces weather the storm." | "Labour's dreadful legacy means there are tough choices ahead and we will do all we can to help our dedicated police forces weather the storm." |