100 jobs to go at West Midlands Police

More than 100 police officer and staff posts will go in the latest round of cuts at cash-strapped West Midlands Police, it was revealed today.

The force is planning to shed 92 officers and 13 staff jobs in order to make £7 million savings.

It admits more than half of those forced out currently work in roles dealing directly with the public.

The cuts are part of plans to save £126m over the next three years, with the potential loss or redeployment of 2,700 officers and staff. Police bosses reviewed 37 areas of the force, made up of 5,029 police officers and 1,970 staff. Departments looked at included CID, Air Operations, call handling and front desk staff.

Chief constable Chris Sims said the proposed officer reductions will be met through natural wastage and the controversial A19 process, which sees officers with 30 years or more experience forced to retire.

He explained that compulsory redundancy was likely to be required in 12 of the 13 staff positions, with those affected leaving from March. Mr Sims said cuts are the latest part of the force's Priority Based Budgeting programme, which urges department managers to make savings.

But the job losses were today condemned by the West Midlands Police Federation, whose deputy secretary Steve Grange warned: "Our officers on the front line are already feeling the pressure of trying to get more for less with rest days being cancelled and meals breaks lost – and that is only going to get worse."

More than £4m has been saved in Staffordshire, including a seven-figure sum through a suspended pay rise for officers.