‘Stretched’ Warwickshire police force one of worst hit by cutbacks
The police, firecrews and a bomb disposal team were called out after a suspect pacvkage was found at number 25 Smitherway, Bugbrooke.
WARWICKSHIRE Police force has seen the second biggest percentage drop in officer numbers out of all 43 constabularies in England and Wales during the past year.
And despite this, the force - which is already the smallest of all 43 - is due to lose another 670 in the next three years, according to a report by Her Majesties Inspector of Constabulary.
In the 12 months running up to March 2012, almost 80 posts were dropped - and since 2009, the force has gone from having 1,050 officers to 802.
Stuart Hinton, secretary of the Warwickshire Police Federation, says with the Olympics and the recent G4S fiasco, workloads are increasing and any further cuts would be impossible to manage.
Mr Hinton, who is also a serving detective police sergeant, said: “Officers are extremely concerned. We are already stretched to the limit.
“Warwickshire has got officers in London for the Olympics and because G4S has failed to produce the goods, we have got more officers at Olympic venues in Coventry and Warwickshire than we should have had.
“There is an embargo on taking leave between July and September because of the Olympics. On top of that, we are now having to work on rest days and overtime.”
He said that the federation is continuing with its campaign against the Government’s decision to impose 20 per cent cuts on police forces, adding: “We have lost virtually a quarter of our previous strengths because of the cuts. It’s impossible for that not to have an effect on policing.”
Chris White, Conservative MP for Warwick and Leamington, said he will pass on the federation’s concerns to policing minister Nick Herbert and speak to Andy Parker, Warwickshire Police’s Chief Constable.
He said: “We need to give the police strong support by looking a different and new ways of working. I will listen to any views that are put before me, but the people who have the most knowledge and experience must be left to make the right decisions.”
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Monday 20 May 2013
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