Top cop faces up to reality of budget cuts

Protecting frontline services remains an absolute priority for police in Northamptonshire, according to the force's chief constable.
Adrian Lee outlined plans to continue putting communities first and bring an end to a recruitment freeze introduced last year, despite facing up to the grim reality of needing to make savings of around £18.5million in the next four years - about 14 per cent of the police budget.
Mr Lee said: "In anticipation of the financial challenges, in 2009 we launched a full review of the force to identify the areas where we could improve the service we provide to the public, while making significant savings. "In the last 12 months we have delivered over £4m savings, increased the number of officers on the front line by 20 - and all while performance against the nine priorities set for us by the Police Authority has been the bets ever."
But he did warn that the force could not cope with an indefinite freeze on recruitment.
A block was put on recruiting new police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) last year, but Mr Lee said that couldn't be maintained throughout the belt-tightening times of the next four years.
"If this pause continued for the whole four-year period, through 'natural wastage' we would have up to 100 fewer officers and 25 fewer PCSOs - and even then, this would only deliver part of the overall savings we need to make," he said.
"However, I do not want to stop recruitment for any longer than is absolutely necessary - which is why we are reviewing how we work across the entire force, as well as looking at the opportunities to collaborate with other police forces and public sector agencies.
"Protecting frontline service delivery is an absolute priority and the Government's decision to continue with the Neighbourhood Policing Fund for the next two years - the specific grant for visible local policing - very much supports our approach."
He added: "“I am confident that, over the next two years, we can maintain and in some cases improve the services we provide to the public while making significant savings.
“In years three and four this will inevitably become more difficult, as alongside the reduction in officers we have to make reductions in the numbers of police staff in support roles.
"It is still too early to be drawn on the quantity of people who may be affected, but I am committed to ensuring we save as much as we can through working more efficiently and reducing bureaucracy before losing valuable members of staff.
"There is no question that we face significant challenges over the next few years.
"But despite these, I can guarantee that we will always endeavour to provide the very best service we can to the communities we serve."