The government must step in to provide urgent funding in Warwickshire to prevent serious damage to local policing, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
The union has written to policing minister Kit Malthouse MP to call for action to stop plans by Warwickshire’s Chief Constable to cut 85 police staff roles. These include 56 investigators, 9 domestic abuse risk officers, 10 intelligence officers and 10 multi-agency support hub staff.
These roles are “essential to the operational effectiveness of Warwickshire police in fighting crime in the county”, says the letter.
It continues: “When the Prime Minister announced the 20,000 police officer uplift in September last year, he promised the public the new officers would be out on the street, fighting crime. In Warwickshire they’ll be sitting behind police station desks, doing the jobs of police staff.”
With the comprehensive spending review due this week, UNISON is urging Kit Malthouse and the home secretary to ensure proper funding so Warwickshire can retain its police staff.
UNISON national police and justice officer Ben Priestley said: “These cuts threaten the jobs of the people who investigate offences, protect communities and the most vulnerable, and help prevent crime.
“The impact on the safety of residents will be huge. The new police officers promised to Warwickshire by the Prime Minister will be stuck behind desks trying to cover for the vital work of those whose jobs were made redundant. Officers should be out on the streets.
“Without the necessary funding, the future of policing in Warwickshire will be challenging, if not completely compromised. The government must overturn these ill-thought out cuts in tomorrow’s comprehensive spending review.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON warned in October about the threat that tightening budgets posed to local policing. The union’s submission to the comprehensive spending review on police funding can be viewed here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Charlie Sarell M: 07949 590138 E: c.sarell@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
