02 September 2010
Ann Barnes, Chair of the Kent Police Authority, has responded to the Chief Constable's saving challenges announced yesterday.
Mrs Barnes, who oversees the watchdog that holds the budget for the force, said: In the next few years the Authority and Force will have no option but to manage a potential Government funding cut of up to 25 per cent (£61million). It could be less than this, but we won't know the exact figures until the Comprehensive Spending Review on the 22nd October. But we need to prepare for this now.
'The Chief has been working on the figure of 20 per cent, which is a shocking amount. We would have to lose around a fifth of our workforce in order to balance the books. Until now I've always given my personal assurance that there would be no job losses. However, I cannot give that anymore, as cuts of this magnitude will have an impact on the policing service.
'The Authority and Force will do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies. We are looking at a range of alternatives including collaboration and restructuring. Our priority is to safeguard the frontline and to reduce crime. There will be hard choices to make but we will be as transparent, and open as possible, with regards to the decisions we will have to make.’