Warks and West Mercia Police slash posts to save £30million

[dutchman]

Warwickshire and West Mercia police forces are to slash hundreds of jobs to save £30million.



The four-year plan will see the combined number of uniform and civilian posts fall from 5,400 to 4,750.

It includes the combined loss of 90 police constables.

Public sector budget cuts mean West Mercia Police needs to save £20 million and Warwickshire Police £10 million by April 2016.

As part of the plan, policing will be reorganised and delivered across seven geographical areas: North Warwickshire and South Warwickshire, North Worcestershire and South Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin.

Both forces will also pool resources in areas such as HR and IT, but each force will retain its identity and continue to be led by a chief constable and deputy chief constable until police commissioner elections are held in November.

Warwickshire chief constable Andy Parker said: “The alliance proposals agreed today are radical and innovative and the best possible policing arrangements at this time.

“Both chief constables are confident that they will meet the financial reductions required, while causing the least harm to our ability to deliver protection and maintain public confidence.”