Councillors criticise move to cut 150 police jobs

A decision to cut 150 jobs from West Mercia Police has been criticised by councillors in Telford, who said they "deplore" the move.

The cuts have been set out by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion, a full council meeting at the Telford & Wrekin authority was told.

The Conservative PCC, who was not at Thursday's meeting, has previously said the force was facing financial challenges from inflation and other pressures.

A motion against the cuts from the majority Labour group and the Liberal Democrats, urging Campion to spend on 92 frontline officers, was carried.

Labour councillor Richard Overton, who lost to Campion in the last PCC election, proposed the motion that the council oppose the cuts.

He said the government had given the West Mercia force a £180.9m grant, amounting to a 6.5% funding boost.

Overton said cuts should be made in Campion's "multimillion-pound ivory tower offices at Hindlip Hall".

Liberal Democrat councillor Thomas Janke said the Police Federation, which represents police, had found more officers were leaving the force than joining it.

Conservative councillor Rachael Tyrrell said the Labour government had been responsible for adding £4.5m in National Insurance costs to the force, which covers Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Tyrrell claimed Telford council representatives had "failed to attend" meetings of the West Mercia police and crime panel, including budget-setting discussions, when they could have made their points.

Overton said the cuts would lead to neighbourhood teams doing administration instead of getting out into the community, but Tyrrell said the force was looking to add 12 local officers and Telford crime was down by 9%.

Campion previously said the force was facing challenges that government was not funding, but the Home Office said funding overall had increased for policing.

West Mercia Police said any jobs lost would be civilian roles rather than police officers.

The PCC's office declined to comment.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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