Cheshire Police chiefs warned today they may be forced to reduce police officer numbers by 250 over the next two years as it faces further budget cuts.
It comes as forces like Cheshire Constabulary are under increasing Government pressure to make more savings.
Cheshire Police, who have saved £60 million since 2010, say may be required by the Government to make a further £12 million of savings in the next two years.
This will have a significant impact on the availability of front-line resources and on the delivery of operational services to the public of Cheshire.
It comes after National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Finance and Resources, Chief Constable Dave Thompson, hit out at the Government, saying that “policing is now at a tipping point” in this country.
Acting Chief Constable Janette McCormick is assessing the extent of further £12 million reductions on key operational services.
In a joint statement, Acting Chief Constable McCormick and Police & Crime Commissioner David Keane said: “This could mean reducing police officer numbers by 250 over the next two years, which is approximately a further 12% reduction.
“Over recent years, the Constabulary has faced significant financial challenges, despite this almost half of the £60 million savings found since 2010 have been delivered through non-pay budgets, which has meant that Cheshire Constabulary has been able to limit the reduction in police officer, PCSOs and Police Staff numbers, compared to many other forces.
“According to national figures, there were 135 fewer police officers in March 2018 in Cheshire than there were in March 2010, which equates to a 6% reduction.
“Nationally, the reduction in police officer numbers has been 14%, and across the North West, excluding Cheshire, the reduction has been 21%.
“HMICFRS has assessed the Constabulary’s efficiency and financial plans as part of its PEEL assessment for each of the past four years and has graded the Constabulary as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ every time.
“Despite this track record, pressures on policing, through reduced budgets and increased demand, are growing to the level that the Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane is increasingly concerned as to whether it can maintain the already over-stretched ‘thin blue line’ for much longer.”
If they have saved 60m over 9 years that’s about 6.6 m per year , assuming these previous savings were rolling cost savings not just one off savings then they will already be on target to ” save” over the new proposed amount, therefore there is no need to cull the thin blue line yes? ( or were the previous 60 m quid one off savings, please clarify if so)