Police budget ‘on a cliff edge’

The potential £1.3m cuts would be on top of £18m of savings already agreed

The Chief Constable of Gloucestershire police has responded to staff letters which expressed concern about further budget cuts.

The mooted £1.3m in cuts would be on top of £18m of savings already agreed.

The Superintendent’s Association, Unison and the Police Federation have all sent letters of condemnation to the local Police Authority.

Chief Constable Tony Melville said he had never experienced an issue which had “galvanised” staff in such a way.

He added: “The letters sent this week are written by bodies which represent every part of the constabulary – both officers and staff and spanning across all ranks.

“They air genuine concerns which I share and also worry could become a reality for this county.”

‘Significant pressures’

Det Ch Supt Gavin Thomas, chairman of the Gloucestershire branch of the Police Superintendents Association, said in his letter the accountability held by the Police Authority was there “to ensure there is an efficient and effective policing service delivered to the people of Gloucestershire.”

He said if the authority went ahead with its plans for further cuts of £1.3m it would “significantly increase the already significant budgetary pressures on the Constabulary, that is already making ‘real’ funding cuts of over £18 million.”

In his letter, chairman of the Gloucestershire branch of the Police Federation, Ian Anderson, said: “The county has already seen the closure of 19 police stations and a reduction of nearly 200 police officers.”

He said the further £1.3m in cuts would “potentially result in further closures and reductions in police officer numbers.”

‘Deep concerns’

Rob Garnham, chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority, said it faced the challenge of increasing its share of council tax by 2.9% for the next three years, or accepting a government offer of £1.3m this year in return for freezing council tax.

“However that cash sum this year will not be built in to the base budget for future years and if accepted we would need to set the constabulary the challenge of finding an additional annual saving of £1.3m,” he said.

“The authority is fully supportive of the constabulary as it reorganises to meet the financial challenges it has been set – they are making outstanding efforts to cope with these challenges and we know how hard this has been.

“We understand the uncertainty that many in policing are feeling and their deep concerns.”

Of the existing plan for £18m in cuts already agreed up on, Chief Constable Melville said: “It is a plan which can deliver a good quality of service to the public, whilst still making the savings required. But it is only possible to continue with that plan if this extra cut is not imposed.

“Never before in my 34 years of policing have I experienced an issue which has galvanised staff and officers in the way that this has.”

A decision on the force’s budget is due to be made at a public meeting in Cheltenham on 9 February.