The Chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has today made 'crystal clear' that there are no plans to reduce police officer numbers in the Force over the coming year.
With reports in the national media today that in a number of Force areas -- including other parts of the North -- officer numbers are set to fall, Councillor Dave McLuckie said that both the Authority and the Chief Constable remained fully committed to maximising resources for front-line policing.
Spending plans for the coming year, which will be considered by the Authority on Thursday, make clear that the record numbers of 1,727 police officers and 197 Community Support Officers will be maintained, together with other major improvements including the launch of the Force's new air support service, the continuing roll-out of state-of-the-art mobile technology and the setting up of a new Vulnerable Person's Unit.
Said Councillor McLuckie "I can understand that with headlines such as 'thousands of police to lose jobs' local people might be worried that this is what will be happening here. I want to be crystal clear -- there are no plans whatsoever to cut officer or PCSO numbers in Cleveland. They are at the highest level in the Force's history and we intend to keep them there.
"We are hopefully on target to deliver a 20 per cent reduction in crime by the end of this financial year -- that's 11,300 fewer victims of crime -- and we are determined to maintain the drive forward in the year ahead. That can only be achieved by putting resources into what matters...front-line policing, working with our partners and local communities.
"The budget we will be considering on Thursday will enable us to maintain that commitment at a relatively modest cost for Council Tax payers. The proposed precept increase of 4.95 per cent equates to no more than 11pence per week for the majority of Council Tax payers -- and I believe that most people will see that as a worthwhile investment to protect...and indeed improve...policing in Cleveland."