Police force is set to decline
Thursday, 21st September 2000.
A FALL in police numbers in Suffolk is a cause for serious concern, according to a constabulary chief.
Home secretary Jack Straw has admitted that by April 2001 the force is likely to have fewer officers than it did in April this year.
This is despite a government plan to recruit a total of 9,000 extra police officers across the country over the coming three years.
Chris Tenn, Suffolk Police Authority chairman, said: "Staff numbers in Suffolk are a serious concern, but we are hopeful that the recently announced increases in officer numbers mean things will improve."
Around 85 new recruits have been earmarked for Suffolk but high retirement rates within the force means numbers are still likely to fall during the next year.
Mr Tenn explained that finding and training new recruits was a lengthy process.
He added that the force was beating staff shortages by employing civilians to carry out administrative tasks within the force.
He said: "The civilianisation programe releases policemen who would have been sitting at desks, so they are able to carry out frontline operational work."
But despite these efforts Mr Tenn admitted that boosting the number of police on the beat would be a "relatively slow process".
He added: "It seems to be taking the government a long time to get to grips with the growing problem of staffing in the force."
Mr Straw admitted in a letter to Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, that seven forces, including Suffolk, were likely to see a drop in the officer numbers this financial year.
The Home Secretary also said 9,000 new recruits were only likely to mean a net increase of 4,000 due to high retirement levels.
Home secretary Jack Straw has admitted that by April 2001 the force is likely to have fewer officers than it did in April this year.
This is despite a government plan to recruit a total of 9,000 extra police officers across the country over the coming three years.
Chris Tenn, Suffolk Police Authority chairman, said: "Staff numbers in Suffolk are a serious concern, but we are hopeful that the recently announced increases in officer numbers mean things will improve."
Around 85 new recruits have been earmarked for Suffolk but high retirement rates within the force means numbers are still likely to fall during the next year.
Mr Tenn explained that finding and training new recruits was a lengthy process.
He added that the force was beating staff shortages by employing civilians to carry out administrative tasks within the force.
He said: "The civilianisation programe releases policemen who would have been sitting at desks, so they are able to carry out frontline operational work."
But despite these efforts Mr Tenn admitted that boosting the number of police on the beat would be a "relatively slow process".
He added: "It seems to be taking the government a long time to get to grips with the growing problem of staffing in the force."
Mr Straw admitted in a letter to Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, that seven forces, including Suffolk, were likely to see a drop in the officer numbers this financial year.
The Home Secretary also said 9,000 new recruits were only likely to mean a net increase of 4,000 due to high retirement levels.
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