Memorandum submitted by Gwent Police Authority
I would respond to the bulleted points as follows:
POINTS 1 AND
2
The following table provides details of the
number of police officers and police staff employed by the force
as at 30 September 2009, together with comparative information
for each of the last five years ending 31 March 2009.
INFORMATION AS AT 31 MARCH FOR EACH YEAR
| Total Officers
| Total Staff |
| FTE | Headcount
| FTE | Headcount
|
| 2005 | 1,438.14 |
1,453 | 786.03 | 836
|
| 2006 | 1,467.76 | 1,484
| 848.54 | 906 |
| 2007 | 1,493.02 | 1,512
| 933.83 | 1,000 |
| 2008 | 1,486.54 | 1,505
| 1,014.99 | 1,080 |
| 2009 | 1,436.87 | 1,457
| 1,012.77 | 1,080 |
30/09/2009 | 1,430.67
| 1,450 | 981.29 | 1,044
|
| |
| | |
Police Officer numbers increased each year between 2004-05 and
2006-07 and remained steady in 2007-08 falling back to 2004-05
levels by 31 March 2009. Police staff numbers increased each year
between 2004-05 and 2007-08 and remained steady in 2008-09 but
fell back in the first six months of 2009-10.
The Force moved from a territorially based BCU structure
to a functional single BCU structure on 30 March 2009, so any
further detailed analysis of business areas where reductions or
increases have occurred prior to that date would not be helpful
or relevant.
POINTS 3, 4 AND
5
In May 2008 the force froze police officer and police staff
recruitment to assist in closing a serious funding gap being projected
for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 as a result of the CSR funding
settlement, efficiency savings targets and the force's overall
financial position. The recruitment freeze formed part of the
force's Staying Ahead Programme geared to addressing the projected
funding gap and maintaining service levels by streamlining and
restructuring force operations and back office services.
The new Chief Constable and his Chief Officer team reviewed the
recruitment freeze 18 months in and as a result of feedback on
its confidence measure decided to refocus its vision to deliver
policing services and to close the protective services gap. The
revised vision is geared to optimising resources and maintaining
and increasing front line policing numbers and moving officers
from the back office, placing more emphasis on front line policing
services.
The force is seeking to reduce on-costs providing a balanced
budget for 2010-11 whilst further reducing costs. During 2010-11
plans will be put in place to create an efficient, effective and
sustainable future.
As a result of the re-focused vision and a re-assessment
and appraisal of its financial projections, the force is seeking
to increase its police officer establishment back to the levels
seen in 2006-07 and to achieve a figure of 1,498 by 31 December
2010. This level may reduce slightly if there is a Workforce Modernisation
of particular posts eg Training Sergeant replaced by a Police
Staff member or Police Officer CSI replaced by Police Staff. The
estimated WFM posts are expected to be in the region of up to
50 during this period and if achieved will produce a corresponding
increase in the police staff establishment.
Gwent Police is one of very few forces in England and Wales
which is currently recruiting police officers. The most recent
intake of new probationer constables was on 28 September 2009
and further intakes are planned for 2010-11 as well as transferee
recruitment for detectives and specialist posts.
The police staff numbers include Police Community Support
Officers which currently stand at 156. These are provided mainly
by Government funding and partly by external funding and both
sources of funding will need to continue for these levels to be
maintained. Police staff numbers will also be affected by the
ongoing Staying Ahead service reviews, with further reductions
expected up to 31 December 2010 and beyond.
Current staffing plans are related to known and projected
levels of funding. However, if there are further unexpected cuts
in government spending plans this will inevitably result in reductions
in front line policing numbers and neighbourhood policing in particular.
I understand that the Chief Constable has responded to your
request for information via the ACPO response.
November 2009
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