Force to recruit 1,000 police to boost front line despite cuts But use of retired officers to cope over summer criticised
WEST Midlands Police is to recruit more than a 1,000 officers and staff over three years despite undergoing a huge programme of cuts.
The force will begin taking on 800 police constables, 150 PSCOs and 200 specialist investigators to tackle cybercrime, such as IT fraud and online paedophiles.
This will free up regular officers to go back to the front line.
The revelation comes after the force was this week criticised for recruiting retired officers in a bid to cope with summer demand.
The starting salary for new police officers will be £23,964, with a minimum of 22 days of annual leave.
West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson pledged to recruit a thousand new officers during his re-election campaign in May.
Despite government budget cuts, the controversial closure and sale of 28 police stations across the region means there is money to spend on front-line officers.
Mr Jamieson said: “This recruitment is at nearly double the rate of my previous term in office and is only happening because of the tough decisions that have been taken to make West Midlands Police more efficient.
“West Midlands Police has faced the biggest cuts of any force in the country and is receiving £2.5 million less from the Government again this year.”
There was also a pledge to ensure that the newcomers reflected the region’s diverse population.
Last year, there was criticism that the force took on just one black officer out of 162 new staff.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “We have already made significant steps on recruitment.
“BME officers now make up nearly a third of our current recruits and we are hopeful that the next phase of recruitment builds on this so that West Midlands Police is representative of the many different cultures it serves.” Details of the force’s drive to recruit ex-staff on temporary contracts were this week revealed in a letter from the Police Federation that raised “significant concerns” about the force’s “resourcing deficiencies”.
As a result, Tom Cudderford, interim chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Police Federation, urged the chief constable to delay the first phase of a five-year public/ private partnership that will restructure the force, cut costs and introduce new technology.
He said summer pressures and demands linked to October’s Con- servative Party Conference were having a “detrimental effect on the health and well-being of officers”.
The first stage of the restructure is set to go live on November 28, but Mr Cudderford said in his letter that the programme should be delayed.
He said: “The current intention is for the force to move to the 2020 Transition Stage 1 on November 28. We believe to make this transition on the approach to Christmas and all the demands that go with that is illconceived.
“The significant resourcing deficiencies are a real cause for concern for our ability to provide efficient and effective police services.
“For many colleagues their norm is excessive workload, infrequent breaks and potential inability to take leave. These all have a detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing.”
But the chief constable hit back, saying the force had gone to “considerable lengths” to ensure staff were fully aware of the programme.
He said: “Wholesale deferral of these essential changes is neither sensible nor does it actually address the federation’s concerns about resilience.
“We have gone to considerable length to ensure staff are fully aware of the programme and its implications for them.
“The recent staff survey shows a very positive level of awareness.”