ACPO lead on finance and resources Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said:
“The Police Service recognises the need to do its part in reducing public sector spending. These reports add to an ongoing debate about the extent of the financial challenge we face and how we manage its impact as we work to keep the public safe.
“While the ‘Sustaining Value for Money in the Police Service’ report suggests the Service could save £1 billion by various means, in ACPO’s view that would only be achievable by significant re-engineering and would require major political will to deliver. Eighty percent of the Police Service budget is made up of people and savings of that extent would therefore have a major impact on numbers.
“As a 24-hour, seven day a week organisation, the Police Service has to be able to respond to any event or crime at any time. Future challenges such as the Olympics will place a demand for police officers that constrains room for some forces to increase civilian posts.
“As HMIC’s ‘Valuing the Police’ report spells out, there is no silver bullet. Forces are in very different financial positions across the country according to the extent of efficiencies already made, the proportion of funding they receive centrally as opposed to through council tax, and the collaboration they take part in. They will need to consider a wide range of approaches to close the financial gap. One size solutions will not fit all.
“Some of the measures necessary can be implemented within forces under the direction of the Chief Constable. Others require legislative change or support from police authorities and government. Tough choices will have to be made and all chief officers recognise the need for strong leadership to protect the frontline and provide the best possible policing service with the resources available to them.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.
• ACPO’s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.
