Page 4 - Federation Magazine: August/September 2015

Chairman’s introduction Fewer officers, fairer funding? seen but it has already been indicated that the CC Thornton has also backed up our own core police grant and counter-terrorism retiring Chief Constable Chris Sims who has funding for police will not be affected. said that the next five years will be about We will have to wait until the doing less with greater focus. Is that what the Comprehensive Spending Review in the public wants, I wonder? autumn to find out how the latest ‘efficiencies’ She says forces need to change the way will be found. But it seems highly likely that they work explaining: “If we ‘slash and burn’ our already depleted police service will lose yet there is no way that we can offer the same more officers. protection to the public. We need to create Latest figures released by the Home Office more capacity by taking steps out of process, in July and covering the period from 1 April people out of systems and making our people 2014 to 31 March 2015 showed the Force lost more productive.” another 155 officers, a reduction of 2.1 per But the NPCC has welcomed other cent and the highest percentage fall in our Government proposals which could overhaul region which also includes Warwickshire, West the way that police funding is calculated. Mercia and Staffordshire. Under the proposals, forces’ funding could be More details about the officer numbers based on the number of jobless households report can be found on Pages 10 and 11 but and bars in an area. some things almost go without saying; The plans, announced by police minister demand for our services is not falling, having Mike Penning, are out for consultation but fewer officers on the ground could leave our could result in a much fairer formula which communities more exposed and could also put would benefit the West Midlands. Police and By Ian Edwards, chairman of West Midlands our officers at risk. I have said it over and over Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has Police Federation again, and so have other Federation leaders, welcomed the news. the cuts will – and are – affecting front-line He said: “I am pleased that the Minister ew people predicted the services. has recognised the need for a fairer funding Conservatives would secure a It would appear that some chief officers model that takes into account the size of the majority victory in the General are also starting to say the same thing with West Midlands. Due to the way funding is FElection in May. several talking about having to stop dealing allocated, this year, West Midlands Police will But now without the possible calming with some matters. receive £43 million less than the funding influence of a Coalition partner, the Tories Sara Thornton, head of the new National formula says we require. have indicated that it will be ‘business as Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), which has “West Midlands Police faces the biggest usual’ and that means more cuts. replaced ACPO, has argued the loss of another and most unfair financial challenge of any The Chancellor wants to save a further 35,000 police posts could be a game-changer. police force in the country. We have already £3 billion in the next three years as he And, critically, given that the Federation has made cuts of over £120 million, with further continues to tackle the economic deficit and appeared to be pretty much a lone voice, she reductions of £100 million to come. If we are the July Budget – the first from a majority also denied that she was crying wolf. In the to continue to tackle crime and solve the Conservative Government in 20 years – set out Home Secretary’s annual speech to the complicated crimes of the future, then the plans for departmental cuts with the Home national conference in May, Theresa May had Government needs to give us our fair share Office expected to save around £30 million. accused Federation leaders of scaremongering and I eagerly await the outcome of the How Theresa May, who held on to her post as with claims about the effect cuts would have consultation.” Home Secretary, will do that remains to be on front-line policing. It’s hard to disagree with that. 04 federation August/September 2015 www.westmidspolfed.com