Staffordshire police could shed another 600 jobs

Another 600 jobs could be shed from Staffordshire police over the next two years as it struggles to cope with the Government's cut in grant.

The force is losing £6.7 million in 2011-2012 and £8.3 million in 2012-2013.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham aims to achieve the reduction in officers and civilian workers through retirements and resignations. He said that compulsory redundancies are the last option but added that he could not rule out closing down police stations.

In the wake of a recruitment freeze the force has lost 70 officers, 106 police staff, five PCSOs and 100 temporary and casual staff. There have been a dozen enforced redundancies — none involving officers.

Levels of officers are down to 2,100 and staff to 1,500 with 240 PCSOs.

Mr Cunningham said nearly 300 jobs had gone from the payroll and the force was looking at similar numbers over each of the next two years. He claimed the loss of officers so far had not impacted on service delivery. Changes in shift patterns, reduction in bureaucracy and new administration practices had saved thousands of police hours releasing officers for frontline work.

He gave a commitment to maintaining the current level of neighbourhood police officers and said the force aimed to increase numbers of volunteer special officers from 340 to 500 by the end of next year.

Mr Cunningham denied the force was looking at policing on the cheap.

He said the specials were "an integral part" of the way policing worked in the county. Mr Cunningham said the force had been preparing for the cuts, which were a "significant challenge," through its Communities First re-organisation programme.

From April the existing set-up of four divisions and 21 neighbourhood policing units will be replaced by local policing teams based on local council boundaries.

The force is also looking to make £2.5m to £3m savings on buildings, amenities, stationery and other expenditure. This could include sharing buildings.