Cuts ‘threaten 1,000 police jobs’
A TRADE union says 1,000 West Yorkshire Police jobs are at serious risk as the force stares at a £40m funding deficit for next year.
Less than year since Boris Johnson announced he was reversing police cuts at a controversial event at force headquarters in Wakefield, the GMB union has claimed police chiefs are under pressure to axe back-office jobs.
It says details of the deficit were shared with police officers and staff before being leaked last week.
The union says scrapping support roles will force frontline officers into doing more paperwork.
Police staff perform vital functions within the police service including control room operations, crime scene investigation, PCSOs and many more roles.
Rachal Dix, GMB Organiser, said: “Spending reviews, restructuring and re-focussing resources means one thing and one thing only; hundreds of our members face the threat of redundancy.
“We will not accept that, so the campaign to halt these cuts must now start.
“Our police officers need to be out there in our communities keeping us all safe.
“The public expect police officers to be visible, and not performing roles behind the scenes.
“Anyone who thinks they can increase their numbers by thousands whilst throwing those who support that policing structure onto the dole queue is fooling no one.
“Boris Johnson launched his big announcement on reversing police cuts right here in West Yorkshire now we can see what a lie that was.”
West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark BurnsWilliamson said: “As the Police and Crime Commissioner, it is my role to set the budget for policing in West Yorkshire and there are many factors and pressures that contribute to its preparation.
“Given that I am due to set the budget in February 2021, it is still too early to say with any certainty what the full financial picture will actually be with all the uncertainties of a COVID impacted environment and extra costs incurred.
“The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) due in the autumn for instance, will have a significant influence on our situation and will ultimately determine how we move forward if the Government resource the police to the extent they should.
“What is clear, however, is that we have been in an extremely challenging position since 2010, with government cuts leading to the loss of over 2,000 police jobs, which is on public record with Government grant accounting for approximately 70% of our budget.
“I have done everything in my power locally to help mitigate against this long term period of austerity, including maximising the local policing precept in starting to gradually rebuild the numbers of police officers and protect Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in our core budget, investing in the frontline and working to maximise its effectiveness.
“However, there is continued uncertainty right across policing, not to mention the public sector as a whole, and I will be working with West Yorkshire Police to look at all options to minimise any impact on police staff as far as possible.
“My priority continues to be rebuilding police numbers and to protect police staff and the many key roles they undertake, and the invaluable service they provide in helping to keep our communities safe.
“I will continue to fight locally and nationally for much needed further sustained resources from government.”