Hertfordshire Police Crime Panel discuss job cut plans (From Borehamwood Times)

Hertfordshire Police Crime Panel discuss PCC David Lloyd's job cut plans

3:10pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News By Anna Slater

Plans to cut more than 130 police officers and staff from Hertfordshire Constabulary were discussed in public last night.

The police and crime commissioner, Councillor David Lloyd, is proposing to freeze the force's share of council tax bill for 2013/2014 while making £6.3million of spending cuts.

The anticipated loss of 60 police officer posts and 76 police staff posts during the next financial year were discussed at the Hertfordshire Police Crime Panel yesterday night.

Councillor Morris Bright, representing Hertsmere, said: “The reality of it is we are in difficult times and are having to make many cuts to services.

“But I am pleased to see David Lloyd kept to his manifesto – he promised he would freeze the precept – and last night he agreed to this.

“The fact that he was the chairman of the Police Authority means he knows how finances work so he is not presenting a budget he does not understand.

“Considering he was elected in the middle of November so only had a number of weeks to get this together is quite impressive.

“He assured us he is acting in the best interests of police and residents to keep Hertsmere safe.”

A percentage of the officer posts lost will be from crime investigation, which is losing £350,000 from its budget, while savings will also be made in intelligence support, in the control room and through collaboration with other forces.

A further £1.8 million of savings is to be made from cutting back office functions including human resources, ICT, estates and finance - areas that could be outsourced to a private company.