Police may lose 97 officers

UP to 97 fewer police officers may be on the beat in Cheshire over the next two years.
The warning has come from Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer, who has just set the financial strategy for policing the county for the next four years.
Mr Dwyer says savings are on track – butwarns that he still needs to find £36 million savings over the next three years.
He said: “With this level of budget savings needing to be made, officer and staff reductions are unavoidable as they account for over 80 per cent of the budget. There may be up to 97 fewer police officers over the two years, 2014-2016.
“The Chief Constable has confirmed to me that we will have to make some reductions in staff but not in the performance or service that the public receive.”
The financial strategy outlines how resources will be used to best effect preventing crime and supporting victims despite the savings and the need to balance the books.
Mr Dwyer said: “In my manifesto, I promised a root and branch review of costs to drive out waste and inefficiency which was set in train following my election.
“After discussing the medium-term financial strategy with the Chief Constable, I am pleased to say that everything is on track.
“The root and branch review has highlighted significant savings. Some of these savings include re-evaluating building agreements and procurement of uniforms and diesel for the fleet.
“The review focusses on local neighbourhood policing designed with the right capacity and capabilities to meet the public’s demand supported by lean central capabilities. The emerging policing model has been costed at £17 million below current costs.
“I was delighted when the Home Secretary, Theresa May, defended the police service as a whole this year, and the Government’s current spending review has provided a reasonable degree of certainty regarding future funding
“That being said, I still need to find £36 million of savings over the next three years.”
Mr Dwyer has been asking the public for their views on the Police and Crime Plan, police budget and council tax precept for the coming year. One of the questions asked was whether people would be happy to pay another increase in the policing part of the council tax. Out of 737 responses 76 per cent of people said they would be prepared to pay a similar increase to last year.
He said: “I’m aware at the moment that people across the board are struggling, as the economy comes out of the recession. Taking this into consideration, I’m minded not to increase the council tax precept for policing next year. I will continue the drive to ensure that the people of Cheshire get value for money when it comes to policing.”