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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