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‘My hands are tied’ Fife chief constable says police officer guarantees mean civilian staff must bear brunt of cuts

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Fife’s chief constable has given assurances over frontline policing as the axe hangs over civilian posts.

Norma Graham made clear no decisions had yet been taken after 250 civilian staff were told their jobs could be at risk and notified of a 90-day consultation period last month.

She said Scottish Government pledges on police numbers meant cutting frontline officers was not an option.

Mrs Graham said: “As a chief constable, I can’t reduce police officers. The Scottish Government’s imperative around it means my hands are tied.”

Fife Constabulary has had to identify huge savings and salaries account for 89% of its expenditure. Of this, civilian staff salaries account for 19%.

The report to Fife Council’s police, fire and safety committee on Thursday said the non-staff budget had been “all but exhausted,” resulting in “a potential significant impact on police staff costs.”

‘Natural wastage’ would not be enough to rein in spending but the force was committed to doing what it could to minimise redundancies.

It has been suggested that staff could be redeployed in the council. In addition, the force has said it will look at its estate and sell buildings or land it no longer needs.

How many jobs are lost will depend on the Government’s comprehensive spending review and the financial settlement due to be announced on Wednesday.

Although Fife is not in a position to give numbers, it is anticipated that, even without a budget reduction, as many as 30 people could potentially be made redundant in 2012/13.

The worst-case scenario outlined predicted as many as 150 staff nearly a third of the workforce would be at risk if the budget was cut by 5%.

Continued…

Responding to criticism from administration leader Councillor Peter Grant that the consultation notices were “premature,” Mrs Graham said: “The timing of it is important and is legally in no way premature, I can assure you of that.

“Before contemplating any workforce changes, you have to let people know.”

The chief constable said the report had been brought before the committee as early as possible so councillors could have a say during the consultation, adding that nothing was “set in solid stone.”

Presenting the report in November could have appeared like a “fait accompli.”

Deputy Chief Constable Andrew Barker said delaying the consultation could have meant staff finding out their jobs were at risk during the festive season.

He said: “The chief constable highlighted the fact that consultation notices had been issued to staff. That was one of the most difficult decisions any of us have had to make because these people are delivering day in, day out for the people of Fife.

“I have spent an inordinate amount of time … assuring staff that we have not made any decisions yet. I can give you an absolute assurance that I am doing everything possible to protect police staff jobs.”

Maintaining a visible presence of bobbies on the beat is set to involve a reduction in higher paid senior ranking officers. Mr Barker said this could yield year-on-year savings of £600,000.

Labour councillor Bob Eadie said the force had been “criticised in the past for a lack of financial planning” and questioned the Scottish Government’s pledge on police numbers.

Councillor Margaret Kennedy called for a special meeting after the financial settlement is announced on Wednesday, and this was backed by colleagues.

She said: “We as a board need to come back and discuss this more when we are in a more knowledgeable position.”

Responding to criticism from administration leader Councillor Peter Grant that the consultation notices were “premature,” Mrs Graham said: “The timing of it is important and is legally in no way premature, I can assure you of that.

“Before contemplating any workforce changes, you have to let people know.”

The chief constable said the report had been brought before the committee as early as possible so councillors could have a say during the consultation, adding that nothing was “set in solid stone.”

Presenting the report in November could have appeared like a “fait accompli.”

Deputy Chief Constable Andrew Barker said delaying the consultation could have meant staff finding out their jobs were at risk during the festive season.

He said: “The chief constable highlighted the fact that consultation notices had been issued to staff. That was one of the most difficult decisions any of us have had to make because these people are delivering day in, day out for the people of Fife.

“I have spent an inordinate amount of time … assuring staff that we have not made any decisions yet. I can give you an absolute assurance that I am doing everything possible to protect police staff jobs.”

Maintaining a visible presence of bobbies on the beat is set to involve a reduction in higher paid senior ranking officers. Mr Barker said this could yield year-on-year savings of £600,000.

Labour councillor Bob Eadie said the force had been “criticised in the past for a lack of financial planning” and questioned the Scottish Government’s pledge on police numbers.

Councillor Margaret Kennedy called for a special meeting after the financial settlement is announced on Wednesday, and this was backed by colleagues.

She said: “We as a board need to come back and discuss this more when we are in a more knowledgeable position.”