megilleland

Having problems pasting on HV. Have contacted Colin several times, understand he is not well. Can you read this and paste it in the topic WMP and Warwickshire Police Alliance.

Reminder of why they amalgamated:

20th June 2012 - Hereford Times

1,000 jobs set to go in £30m police cuts

PLANS to shed £30 million from policing costs across the region under a “strategic alliance” between forces in West Mercia and Warwickshire are about to be finalised.

West Mercia Police agreed to enter into a formal partnership yesterday, a move which is expected to lead to up to 1,000 job cuts in total.

About £22.8 million of the savings will come from losing workers, with the cull set to take place between now and 2015/16.

And £4 million is due to be saved from sharing IT, reviewing building costs and vehicles.

West Mercia Police will take the brunt of the cuts, with the force aiming to save £20 million of the total figure.

Warwickshire’s police authority is meeting today to finalise their side of the alliance, and will be responsible for the remaining £10 million.

The exact number of the job losses have yet to be confirmed, but HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) revealed last year more than 1,000 posts were likely to go.

Simon Payne, of the Police Federation, has hit out at the move, saying: “The key thing for our members is, are we being treated fairly? I think not.

“The public will rightly be asking who is to blame for this.”

Councillor Mary Drinkwater, who sits on the police authority, which approved it, said: “I think people want to see police kept on the streets and communities protected. Hopefully, it will work. Over last year police and officers have worked incredibly hard to put this together, it’s been a lot of effort.”

The majority of the job losses will affect staff in “management and leadership” roles, rather than frontline police officers.

Both forces will keep their chief constables and deputies, but expect to lose a significant number of other senior positions.

All police stations have been placed under review, any new vehicles being bought will be funded jointly, and a single firearms unit will be created.

Both police authorities will be defunct by November, when a new police and crime commissioner will be elected.

Robin Walker, Worcester’s MP, said: “These are tough economic times and when there is not as much money to go round, prioritising spending on police officers while sharing assets and making back office savings is a better approach.”

Looks like we drew the short straw paying for this and still expected to pay again for the "divorce". Marvellous savings for the ratepayers!