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£132m shortfall may force Met to cut police numbers
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent17 Nov 2008
SCOTLAND Yard may be forced to cut police numbers amid fears of a £132million shortfall in its budget, according to an authoritative report.
A study by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary says the Met is facing swingeing cuts unless it brings in urgent savings. One possible outcome is that bosses will have to cut numbers and replace officers with civilians.
The study is critical of the Met for spending more pro rata in some key areas than other forces.
The complex scrutiny highlights how the Met's £3.5billion budget will be squeezed by tighter controls on public spending over the next three years. Estimates for the financial year 2011/12 show an estimated shortfall of £132million, a sum which could increase significantly if savings are not made in the next few years. The report warns that if spending gets out of control the Met would have to consider capping growth and "changing the mix of police and other staff (reducing police numbers)".
But the study also praises the force for identifying savings in some areas, such as:
l Slashing the costs of Trooping the Colour to save £300,000.
l Arranging external funding for 665 police posts, mainly police community support officers paid for by councils and Transport for London.
l Reducing the number of police commanders for football matches.
The timing of the report is unfortunate for Scotland Yard, coming in the midst of the search for a new Commissioner. A new chief will face difficult decisions about cutting staff while maintaining the fight against terrorism and crime.
The HMIC inspectors were called in last year to examine the force's spending and efficiency by Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. The study reports that Sir Paul recognised the possible need for "significant service re-engineering" if the force was to meet targets.
However, the study also concludes that a board set up to look for savings has "yet to assist in developing strategy".
The HMIC singles out the Met for criticism for spending much more pro rata on costs for control room staff, IT, and transport.
A Met spokeswoman said the force was confident it would be able to meet savings and avoid cutting officer numbers.
Reader views (8)
Try a head count Commissioner and see how many shiny bottoms you have got sat in front of computers each and every day. Look at how many civilians you have doing jobs that used to be done by ONE soon to be retired copper and count the millions you are wasting. Stop recruiting unsuitable people to do the job just because it fills some bizarre Nulabour directive (and save millions in compensation).
- Roger, Staines., 18/11/2008 07:27
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Get rid of the police who are sick. That will save a great deal of money on the malingerers. Then get rid of these useless Community Support Officers who go around in pairs chatting to each other all the time.
- Thoughtful, London. UK, 17/11/2008 22:34
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There is no need for operational cuts. The obvious solution is (1) Do away with all PCSO's (they add absolutely no value to policing and would not be missed). (2) Close down all Diversity units; and (3) Remove the right to paid overtime for PC's and Sergeants (replacing it with a one-off increase in basic pay, as was done for Inspectors some years ago). Changes in overtime regulations alone would save over £200 million per year.
- Exmetacpo, London, 17/11/2008 22:26
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As a recently retired Met. Officer I can state that there is plenty of opportunity to save money. Not by cutting the number of Police Officers, but by slashing the huge Army of civilians in Diversity, H.R. and other non job roles.
Many of these are well paid parasites who contribute nothing towards keeping the streets of London free from crime.
- Charles, Stanmore. London, 17/11/2008 17:23
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There is no reason for front line services to be cut any more than theya re already. There are plenty of HQ positions that could be done away with to deal with current 'exigencies'. Clear out the Diversity directorate for one, there's loads of desk johnnies sitting there polishing their CV's and reading up on civil litigation. If each major directorate didn't seem to be duplicating each others policy and research work there's a few more spaces. Pop along to NSY or NSY MkII at Empress State Building in Earls Court and see how many peopela re in and out all day - they're not all civil staff. Cuts and redeployments can be made - the squeling will be very audible. Get a grip Commissioner - whoever you will be!
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK, 17/11/2008 13:14
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Sir Ian Blair's pay off and some well-publicised "out of court" settlements can't have helped the financial situation.
- Ab, London, 17/11/2008 12:01
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I would imagine if they cut the diversity and equality training budget they would save millions.
- Londonbloke, London, 17/11/2008 11:58
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I can help save the Metropolitan Police some money: look very, very carefully at travel and expenses claims. Earlier this year whilst visiting London a police officer in plain clothes identified himself and told me that somebody had just attempted to steal an item from my shopping bag. I was asked to make a statement and when I told the office that I lived in Leicester he offered to visit me there-it seemed unnecessary but I agreed. He duly arrived by train with a colleague and took all of 10 minutes to take my very short statement. He then said that they would spend the rest of the day looking around Leicester! I never did hear anything more and have no idea if the case went to court but do know that 2 officers had a nice day out.
- Stephanie Lawrence, Leicester, 17/11/2008 11:24
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