Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has today published its thematic report ‘Policing in Austerity: One year on’ on the plans by all forces in England and Wales to meet the financial challenge of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
As part of this, the HMIC reports on the plans by City of London Police to identify savings, which the force has done through its City First change programme.
The HMIC points out that City of London Police has a history of reducing cost while improving performance and although it has the lowest budget of all forces it has to make the largest reduction under the Comprehensive Spending Review.
The report states the force has already put in place plans to meet the £17m savings that are needed - and may even exceed the amount required.
The HMIC reports that to meet the savings, the force will cut its total workforce and that there will be reductions in police officer posts, though the proportion of officers assigned to frontline duties will increase by 2015.
Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong said: ‘The figures set out in the HMIC report are solely representative to meet the financial savings we must find, but are still subject to fluctuation as we go through the process of consultation and implementing change. We have sought to identify savings in the region of £20m while continuing to provide a first class service.
‘The City of London Police has a unique and complex role to fulfil, not only protecting people and businesses in the Square Mile with all the specialist and local policing that requires, but also the force has a national remit in tackling economic crime.
‘While our percentage of the workforce on the frontline may appear lower than the national average, as the HMIC highlight, we are also reorganising to provide more officers on the streets, while exploring new ways to generate funding by working with the private sector, particularly around our national lead capability in dealing with economic crime.’
While HMIC says crime has increased fractionally in the City, crime levels are still the lowest of all 43 forces inspected and the last year-on-year Home Office audited figures showed a decrease of four per cent, which is slightly above the national average for the reduction in crime.
Assistant Commissioner Armstrong added: ‘The City of London remains the safest place to live, work and visit.’
Policing in Austerity: One Year On (main report)
City of London, Policing in Austerity: One Year On
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