The ”breakneck speed” of police reform could threaten Fife’s record crime detection rates, according to the chair of a council committee set up to oversee the transition to a single Scottish service.
Mr Yates asked the chief constable if the force could cope with further cuts, saying: ”Fife has seen some very substantial budget savings. However we know that, as we move on, the Scottish Government will ask us to make increasing budget savings.
”My question is, how much fat is there left to cut?”
Ms Graham said: ”We have gone through a process of cutting as much fat as we possibly can. We are pretty lean.
”That’s not to say there won’t be more work done in the coming months to try to keep it as low as we possibly can as we move towards a single Scottish service.
”But there won’t be an awful lot that can be done beyond that.”
Councillors also looked at possible replacements for Norma Graham, who will step down as chief constable on August 20, seven months before a single Scottish police force is up and running.
The short-term appointment was discussed at a behind-closed-doors meeting after the committee.
The Courier understands councillors are likely to hand the job to deputy chief constable Andrew Barker.
Mr Yates said: ”What was clear is the committee wants continuity. As we move towards the biggest shake-up in policing in 50 years, effective leadership is key.”
The chairman also paid tribute to the departing chief constable, who was presented with a bouquet after the council meeting.
Mr Yates said: ”We’ve seen continual improvement in your time as chief constable and you’ve shown incredible dedication, not just to Fife Constabulary, but to the communities you have served.”
Former chairman of the now-defunct police, fire and safety committee, George Kay, said: ”I’d like to thank you wholeheartedly on behalf of the people of Fife.”
Ms Graham said: ”I’d like to thank the men and women of Fife Constabulary who have made us the jewel in the crown of Scottish policing.”
Fife Constabulary’s crime figures for 2011/12 show that the force had a 60% detection rate one of Scotland’s highest.
The statistics also show there were 797 fewer victims of crime in the region compared to the previous year a reduction of 4.3%.
But Councillor Gavin Yates fears that the speed with which the Scottish Government is pushing through plans to merge the country’s eight regional forces could compromise frontline policing in Fife.
Speaking to The Courier after the first meeting of the police transition committee, which he chairs, he said: ”We’ve heard of the fantastic performance of Fife Constabulary at today’s meeting but that performance is potentially under threat by the Scottish Government’s rushed police reform legislation and the breakneck speed at which it’s being implemented.
”The role of this committee will be to ensure that Fife is heard, so that our service and our officers are protected.”
Chief Constable Norma Graham told councillors the force’s achievements in the last year had been delivered in the face of ”unprecedented financial challenges”.
In the last four years, Fife Constabulary has made efficiency savings of more than £5m, with almost £2m saved in 2011/12.
She said: ”The backdrop to this performance is cuts. But it has been managed exceptionally well.
”What we’ve managed to take from what has been swingeing cuts in many ways, is turn us into a far more modernised, appropriate service.
”No one has been made redundant and been able to retain officer numbers, which has been part of government targets.”
Continued…