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Memorandum submitted by Wiltshire Police Authority

EVIDENCE ON POLICE SERVICE STRENGTH IN WILTSHIRE

  I refer to your letter of 14 October to the Chief Constable and I can advise you as follows:

    — Wiltshire Police currently has a total headcount of 2,503 (figures as at 30 September 2009) which is broken down into 1,221 Police Officers and 1,282 Police Staff (including PCSO's but excluding Special Constables and Volunteers). It should be noted that the Full Time Equivalent numbers will be less, since some will be part-time staff.

    — There has been an overall increase of 372 (heads) since 2004 of which the majority is attributed to growth in Protective Services capacity as a result of "Closing the Gap". It is difficult to break down detailed changes in smaller units over this period of time to provide a like for like comparison as the organisation has evolved with design and structures of business units changing.

    — With pressures on Police Forces to increase service provision (Protective Services and Neighbourhood Policing) it has been necessary to look at all options. Central funding over the last three years has been in the range of 2.3% to 2.6%, this has been sufficient to fund nationally agreed pay increases but will not fund any growth. To fund the growth efficiency savings of at least 3% per annum have been targeted. In this strive for efficiency to release funds the Force has, and continues to review each non-operational Police Officer role to identify whether there is a critical need for the role holder to be a warranted officer. This, with Work Force Modernisation, has led to a recent reduction in Police Officers, it should be noted that each role which is civilianised results in a saving of circa £15,000. As detailed below future funding expectations will require us to push harder for efficiencies. By targeting those non-operational Police Officers initially it is likely that total police officers numbers will fall.

    — The Force does not have any significant changes planned to the current workforce in respect of size for the remainder of this financial year, nor have specific changes been detailed in respect of the financial year 2010-2011. However, our medium term financial plan indicates that over the next three years we will have to make savings in the region of 5% of our budget. With such a large proportion of our expenditure committed to staff costs it is inevitable that the numbers of staff and officers will come under pressure. The Force and the Police Authority recognise the challenges in public spending and are, taking steps to ensure that the Force is strategically prepared for the next decade. Critical to this is the programme of change led by the Deputy Chief Constable to examine efficiency, resourcing and opportunities for strategic partnerships which will ensure the continued delivery of policing services for Wiltshire against a backdrop of public spending cuts and continued economic pressures. Also, Wiltshire Police take an active role in the Regional Collaboration Programme driven by the Chief Constables and PA Chairs across the South West.

November 2009





 
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