MORE police may be put on the beat in a wide-ranging shake-up planned for Greater Manchester - but at a price.
Traffic police will be reduced and dog handlers would be cut from 80 to 30 in a move to get an extra 160 officers on the frontline.
And a specialist unit which looks at `volume crime' such as robbery is also facing the axe with officers being deployed on to individual divisions instead.
The changes are proposed in a massive consultation by GMP bosses.
They want to put the extra officers on the streets, into divisions tackling drug crime and into units focusing on major criminals.
The proposals are part of a major review of what is known as the X department which takes in specialist teams including the mounted section, firearms and the tactical aid unit. Proposals were sent out to staff in an email.
A consultation has been launched with a final decision expected next month.
Police bosses said the proposals had been put forward in a bid to get as many officers as possible out on the beat and better support for those already there. But the plans have been criticised by dogs handlers who already saw their unit reduced by 20 last year as part of a budget-cutting exercise.
If the new proposals go ahead, it would mean the unit which once boasted more than 100 staff would be reduced to 30.
The remaining officers would keep specialist sniffer dogs trained to find bodies, firearms and drugs as well as a much reduced number of general purpose German Shepherd dogs normally used to help chase criminals and control disorder, for instance at football matches and riots.
One police dog handler said: "When Manchester United played Roma, we had three dogs around Old Trafford and we got more in. From now on I can't see there being more than one dog at games."
Insiders said the dog unit had been responsible for 1,500 arrests last year and that general purpose German Shepherds were invaluable during large scale disturbances such as the Oldham riots, problems involving football crowds and helping to make arrests.
A GMP spokesman said: "A number of proposals have been put to staff for consultation as part of the force's commitment to increasing resources for frontline policing."
What do you think of the proposals? Have your say.
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theorangebuffalo (29/10/2007 at 08:49)
Reducing the paperwork for the officers is of critical importance and if the government can pull it's finger out and get that sorted, they'll be even more on the beat, instead of sitting in the station doing paperwork.
I say let's use the money that the government is planning to use on the id card system into the Police force and other areas. It's a ridiculous amount of money and would be better spent elsewhere!
http://changebritain.wordpress.com/
dessie, manchester (29/10/2007 at 09:51)
TIME FOR AN ELECTION ME THINKS!!!
ace, manchester (29/10/2007 at 10:08)
Barmy Bird (29/10/2007 at 10:31)
Tubby Scruff (29/10/2007 at 10:40)
There isn't a need for so many traffic cops with the introduction of automatic number plate recognition. The only thing I would look at is, with the reduction of the dog's, does this mean the Helicopter will have more use ?
anonymous (29/10/2007 at 10:52)
Enigma, Trafford (29/10/2007 at 11:33)
Why not tell the government the truth that the PCSO exercise does not and will never work. So lets get rid of them and increase the number of real officers with real powers.
Is the real motto of GMP Working with you, working it up you?
mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (29/10/2007 at 14:26)
being bottom of the tables,does not help their cause.
Black Flag (29/10/2007 at 14:40)
PCSOs are much more useful for patrolling the streets, being the eyes and ears of the police, providing a visible presence and generally performing the role that the police were established for.
The constabulary is better suited to responding to incidents at the direct request of the public or when informed of a need for their presence by a PCSO.
Many other countries (including France, the birthplace of policing) have a two tier policing system. Why not us?
ace, manchester (29/10/2007 at 14:42)
H3X (29/10/2007 at 15:46)
"look at me I've cut 300k from my department, can I have a promotion and pay rise please" the break down, and reduced effectiveness don't seem to be a consideration?!?!
I imagine once the thieves and other criminals realize they will no longer have a dog chasing them down, but a poorly armed police officer its obvious that they are more likely to tool up and attack which eventually will result in injury or even worse DEATH!!!!
Dogs are one of the most effective means of locating, holding and intimating law breaks that exist!!!
Reducing the number of traffic police, I'm not fully aware of all there responsibilities, obviously to stop dangerous drivers, suppose if reduced we will just have speed camera's every few hundred yards "Income Generators" but what about the other valuable services they provide, when accidents happen on motorways etc... are those duties going to disappear or just gonna be passed onto other companies?.
Police do need a shake up, not the people at the front lines but the highly paid senior and middle management figures who obviously got lost on there power trips and forgot why they joined :(
Jimc (29/10/2007 at 15:55)
Mark,Radcliffe. (29/10/2007 at 16:06)
bernie, manchester (29/10/2007 at 16:12)
ace, manchester (29/10/2007 at 16:28)
Pentest (29/10/2007 at 16:29)
The Truth (29/10/2007 at 16:53)
Where is the most unusual place you have found a bobby?
ace, manchester (29/10/2007 at 17:14)
The Voice of Reason, Manchester (29/10/2007 at 18:07)
It is generally agreed within the force that Traffic officers duties can be quite easily undertaken by ordinary patrol officers, their skills are not exactly rocket science, however dog handlers are an undervalued and under used resource. Its time for Mr Todd to look at the Headquarters canteen at lunchtime to see how many of his staff hide away shuffling paper. These are the people that need putting back on the beat!
Gunter Helbe (29/10/2007 at 18:33)
I would like to see a European police force so that I can feel the same level of safety here as in the mainland.
H3XI3 (29/10/2007 at 18:43)
More Real Police,
More Dogs and the police traffic cars should stay!!
wkdboy1, Woodley (29/10/2007 at 19:02)
When will this stop?
When we force this government out of office once and for all!!!
That is when we will be able to get something out of this country and not keep wasting money and time on stupid ideas that are there to favor the rich and beat the poor.
Nemo (29/10/2007 at 19:16)
PCSO's are just a way of police forces throughout the country putting uniforms on the street because is does not cost as much as a police officer however in doing this PCSOs have in fact increased work load on police officers because they get no respect from the scum on the street and get themselves involved in incidents they are not able to deal with.
With HATO's on the motorway PCSO's on the street traffic wardens who can issue endorsable fixed penalties speed camers and the reduction of traffic police and dog handlers it wont be long before there are no police on the strees because the police force as we know it will become civilianised!!
Pravda (29/10/2007 at 19:35)
nelly4fun (29/10/2007 at 20:41)