98pc of police deliver snub to top brass

They ignore cutbacks review

NEARLY 98 per cent of police officers and civilian staff have snubbed an official consultation on cost-cutting reforms – and nearly half of those who did reply voiced opposition.

Top brass unveiled the ‘Policing 2026’ strategy in February, with plans to axe 400 officers in a bid to save nearly £200million.

There were also plans for moves to encourage the public to email smartphone pictures of incidents direct to police and for officers to operate from ‘civic hub’ community centres rather than police stations.

Only 564 responses have been received so far for the consultation on Policing 2026, out of a total workforce including civilian staff of around 22,700 – about 2.5 per cent.

In a major setback for senior officers, only 52 per cent of those who responded backed the strategy.

Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross said: ‘How can the public be expected to get behind these proposals when Police Scotland’s workforce seems to have shunned them?’

Chief Superintendent Angela McLaren, head of organisational development at Police Scotland, has warned officers that without Policing 2026, the ‘service will start to degrade’ over the next ten years.

The low response rate and high level of opposition indicate that senior officers and ministers face a battle to persuade rank-and-file officers to accept the proposals.

The manpower cuts leave the SNP’s flagship pledge to keep officer numbers at 1,000 more than the 2007 level in tatters. Policing 2026 will focus on a plan to ‘do more with fewer people’.

Defending Policing 2026, Chief Constable Phil Gormley said: ‘Tactical, short-term decisions to try to save money, without intelligent design about the service we need to build for the future, are the heart of the problem.’