Jobs could be lost in police shake-up
Redundancies cannot be ruled out at West Midlands Police when divisions across the regions are merged as part of a "streamlining" shake-up of services, the force said today.
Redundancies cannot be ruled out at West Midlands Police when divisions across the regions are merged as part of a "streamlining" shake-up of services, the force said today.
The force's current 21 operational command units will be reduced to 10 local policing units as part of the move, which will come into force into April 2010.
It is the first phase in a series of major changes planned, which bosses claim will streamline the organisation and improve the service delivered to the public.
They have refused to rule out future redundancies as the force deals with "unprecedented financial pressures".
West Midlands Police spokeswoman Catherine Hickman said: "To enable us to deliver a first class service and protect communities from harm, we need to be as streamlined, lean and effective as possible.
"Linked to this, all publicly accountable organisations like the police are facing unprecedented financial pressures.
"As a result, we realise there will be some very difficult challenges over the next few years which may mean redundancies being considered, but this will be seen as a last possible option."
She added: "This programme commenced on 1 June and the announcements made are very much Phase one of the project.
"The programme will continue to make recommendations and these will be subject to a full consultation process with staff, our partners and the public." As part of the first phase of project, officers from Wolverhampton and Wednesfield will come together to form a new borough-wide division.
Walsall will be merged with Bloxwich, West Bromwich will join with Smethwick, and Dudley and Halesowen will also become one borough-wide unit.
Other local policing units will include Birmingham West and Central, Birmingham East, Birmingham North and Birmingham South, as well as Coventry and Solihull.
Chief Constable Chris Sims said: "Each unit will vary in size, but all will have the same functions and capabilities, all aimed at improving local policing and the service we provide to communities.
"My expectation is that local commanders will improve trust and confidence in local communities and they will have my support in how they achieve this.
"I will not be holding them to account over targets and figures, as we have traditionally done in the past.
"I have said before that public satisfaction will be our only yardstick in the way that we police in the West Midlands.
"For West Midlands Police to continue delivering a first class service and protecting our communities from harm we need to be as streamlined, lean and effective as possible.
"These frontline services are crucial to the service that we provide and the public quite rightly expect them to be available – something which I fully support."
A public consultation has been launched into the changes.
