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Police hit out over 120 job cuts | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
North Wales Police has announced that it will cut 120 jobs by March. | |
The force blamed the decision on cuts in funding, combined with a possible cap on council tax rises. | The force blamed the decision on cuts in funding, combined with a possible cap on council tax rises. |
Chief constable Richard Brunstrom claimed the UK government had "police finance into a really dreadful mess and is seemingly in complete denial". | Chief constable Richard Brunstrom claimed the UK government had "police finance into a really dreadful mess and is seemingly in complete denial". |
Force finance director Tom O'Donnell said it was "desperate" not to reduce front-line policing, and savings were being examined among support staff. | Force finance director Tom O'Donnell said it was "desperate" not to reduce front-line policing, and savings were being examined among support staff. |
The news follows expected cuts of £3m next year, on top of £2m this year. | The news follows expected cuts of £3m next year, on top of £2m this year. |
In his weblog on the force website, Mr Brunstrom writes: "We're going to have to downsize, and I have to plan for it. | In his weblog on the force website, Mr Brunstrom writes: "We're going to have to downsize, and I have to plan for it. |
"The government has got police finance into a really dreadful mess and is seemingly in complete denial. | "The government has got police finance into a really dreadful mess and is seemingly in complete denial. |
"We're going to have to take the consequences - and so are you. Still, nil desperandum." | "We're going to have to take the consequences - and so are you. Still, nil desperandum." |
'Improving efficiency' | 'Improving efficiency' |
Mr O'Donnell said the financial situation "requires action now to ensure we live within the resources being made available". | Mr O'Donnell said the financial situation "requires action now to ensure we live within the resources being made available". |
He went on: "We will look for all means of improving efficiency but this is a great disappointment to us and our staff who have worked so hard to turn North Wales Police into one of the best performing forces in England and Wales. | He went on: "We will look for all means of improving efficiency but this is a great disappointment to us and our staff who have worked so hard to turn North Wales Police into one of the best performing forces in England and Wales. |
"We are desperate not to impact on front-line policing. This inevitably means that we have to look for savings within the support staff budget. | "We are desperate not to impact on front-line policing. This inevitably means that we have to look for savings within the support staff budget. |
"We are consulting with staff associations as we proceed." | "We are consulting with staff associations as we proceed." |
Ian Roberts, chair of North Wales Police Authority, said any initial cuts of support staff could have an impact on neighbourhood policing. | Ian Roberts, chair of North Wales Police Authority, said any initial cuts of support staff could have an impact on neighbourhood policing. |
He said: "The first ones are the backroom staff. It shouldn't be them, they are the people who are doing a lot of the work inside to make sure that we have got people on the ground. | He said: "The first ones are the backroom staff. It shouldn't be them, they are the people who are doing a lot of the work inside to make sure that we have got people on the ground. |
"If we take them from inside we have to fill those sort of jobs and they will come from outside and will have to come from neighbourhood policing." | "If we take them from inside we have to fill those sort of jobs and they will come from outside and will have to come from neighbourhood policing." |
Mr Roberts added that any cut in neighbourhood officers could see an increase in crime. | Mr Roberts added that any cut in neighbourhood officers could see an increase in crime. |
He said: "That seems to be a no-brainer. If we haven't got police on the ground that's what is going to happen." | He said: "That seems to be a no-brainer. If we haven't got police on the ground that's what is going to happen." |