More regionalroles likely aspolice respondto savage cuts

POLICE are preparing to regionalise some services in Yorkshire as forces prepare for what are expected to be savage spending cuts after the General Election, it has emerged.

One chief constable expects to see his force of officers shrink by up to 15 per cent, or hundreds of staff, within the next three to five years because of a shortage of money.

Communities have been warned that the recently developed “neighbourhood policing” will not be immune from cuts and the expectation is that the work police do with other public bodies will also be hit by a lack of funds across the board.

That so-called partnership work involves projects like youth activities, aimed at keeping at-risk youngsters from getting into trouble and providing an alternative for those who might otherwise get involved in anti-social behaviour.

South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes said: “I think the quality of the service we provide to the public in the future will not be as good as we would want it to be.”

Yorkshire’s four forces started work on plans to merge under a scheme to create a small network of “super-forces” when Charles Clarke was Home Secretary, but the idea was abandoned.

The benefits of regional working were recognised and a roads policing team set up in Yorkshire to tackle criminals working across the area has proved highly successful.

Now some sensitive CID roles have been identified as suitable to be managed on a regional basis and intelligence work, gathering and distributing information on criminals, is also regarded as a possible candidate.

If it goes ahead, such rationalisation would be expected to bring cost savings and improved efficiency, helping to minimise the impact of reduced spending power.

It is hoped new technology will also allow front-line staff to spend more time on the streets, using computer communication links rather than physically returning to their station.

If that worked the public might not notice the cuts, said Mr Hughes, but if it didn’t then the losses would be felt.

Next year’s budget was as expected, he said, but: “What we are concerned about is future years.

“The Home Office has said officer numbers will be safeguarded but we have not seen the detail. History has shown we should always prepare for the worst case scenario.”

Staff costs absorb more than 80 per cent of police spending and there is limited scope to make further savings on equipment and other costs.

Some jobs have been given over to civilian colleagues and while there is scope for more, those options are now limited.

Senior officers within South Yorkshire Police are already working on plans for future years, trying to establish what the public and the force’s ruling police authority most want.