Hundreds more police staff in the West Midlands face losing their jobs as a result of a further £100m cut to the force’s budget – in addition to the £126m of savings already being made by 2015.
Cheif Constable Chris Sims said that the public should not be alarmed.
But UNISON is extremely concerned that the cuts will directly affect services for the people of the West Midlands.
“Having already lost 2,200 police officers and police staff the prospect of trying to lose another £100m in funding would be very damaging,” said UNISON regional organiser Charlie Sarell.
“The cuts will fall on the police staff who carry out frontline roles such as answering 999 calls, doing forensic investigations, preparing the cases for court and thousands of other jobs.
“As the police staff disappear the work they do will drag officers off the streets and into the office, to do all the important and necessary paperwork that police staff have been doing over the last 10 years.
“The outcome will be a less visible and efficient service. You cannot continue to cut the budget and expect to provide the same service.”
He said that UNISON would continue to be engaged in trying to improve the service. “But we call on the senior management of the force not to mislead the public into thinking that these cuts can be made with little or no consequences.”
Jill Harrison, UNISON West Midlands police branch secretary, said that in addition to the £126m budget cut that resulted from the last comprehensive spending review, the government had changed the funding mechanism, resulting in the West Midlands force being disproportionately hit compared to some areas like Surrey.
“We cannot subscribe to the idea that another £100m axed from the budget won’t affect the service the public receive. This is a concern for the whole of our community, not just unions, and I would urge everyone to write to their MPs expressing concern about further cuts to the police budget.”
