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Police authority meets to discuss GMP plans to axe 75 more posts

'DIFFICULT WORK’: Chief Constable Peter Fahy has ordered bosses to look again at ‘back office’ jobs at the force’s new headquarters in Newton Heath as GMP looks to shed 3,000 posts and save £134m by 2015

Greater Manchester Police is to axe another 75 civilian posts as it battles to save £134m by 2015.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy has ordered his senior staff to look again at making cuts in the ‘back office’.

Hundreds of civilian workers were axed during a similar exercise which ended a year ago, saving £30m-a-year.

The second phase of the cost-cutting exercise in summer ended with posts going in departments – including crime scene investigators and front desk staff - which support front line cops, making an annual saving of £8m.

Now, in the third phase of cuts, about 1,300 staff working at the force’s new HQ in Newton Heath will come under the scope of the latest review. Managers will hold briefings with the staff on Monday.

Crime levels fall 7 pc in Greater Manchester despite riots and police budget cuts

A report to the police authority says savings worth £5.4m can be made by cutting 75 posts, most of them civilian workers.

The departments being looked at include corporate communications, business support, estates, human resources, the command team and the professional standards branch.

It comes a day after the police federation chairman elect Ian Hanson claimed GMP resources were at breaking point

The force needs to shed 3,000 jobs in total to find the savings.

Mr Fahy said: "I am more than aware this outcome will have a huge impact on people’s lives, but this difficult work must continue. This phase has revisited the back office functions at our headquarters.

"This has been particularly hard for the staff involved, as this is now the second time they have had to go through this process.

"We are working with the police authority and are offering as much support as we can to those affected by these latest cuts.

"We have also been consulting with managers and staff in the relevant departments, as well as Unison, the Police Federation and the Superintendents’ Association.

"I would like to commend all our staff and officers at GMP, who have continued to work to the very highest of standards to ensure the excellent service provided by GMP to the public is not affected, even in these challenging times."

Jim Moodie, from the Unison union, said: "How much can you squeeze out of an orange?

"There was a huge reduction in this area the first time around. I don't know how much scope there is for cutting this time.

"For our members it’s just wave after wave of cuts and change that’s never-ending. This is damaging the service and damaging the delivery of the service."

Greater Manchester Police Authority discussed the cost-cutting plan in a meeting today. Reporter John Scheerhout sent back live updates below from the meeting - click here to read on a mobile device ...

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I note the Preofessional standards branch are included in these cuts which is about time. They are over staffed over managed and have expensive office accommodation on Salford Quays. They invested over half a million in a computer to monitor police corruption and produce didly squat!
Rathter than cuttin civilians they should be sacking idle cops who ride round in cars ignoring blatant offences every day!

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Why can GMP not dispose of all the long term officers that are on restricted duties, this would save millions of pounds.There are hundreds of officers that are on restricted duties - that are not fit for purpose. These should be medically retired or asked to resign. Why are civilian employees being attacked again.
Secondly , how many of the Senior leadership have been removed from post.?
Thirdly , what about all those officers that have worked longer than 30 years , why are they not being made to retire, thus saving money .
I suggest that staff/civilians are whatever they are now called are EASY targets , and its an absolute disgrace how they and their families are being treated, Shame on GMP and Mr Fahy.

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Another stab in the back for the hard working Police Officers in Greater Manchester!

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I have a foot in each camp in a way. In my experience there are thousands of hard working cops who deserve (and do not get) hero status. Doing a thankless and dangerous job.

But it is fair to say that we became a haven for the flabby and weak minded. I'm all for protecting those with genuine illnesses and injuries, but how many "I can't have contact with the public because of stress" and "I can only work 8-4 in an office" types did we end up with? Far too many.

And, how many of the mostly brilliant police staff actually seemed to hold officers in contempt? Talking to them like dirt and being as unhelpful as they could?

The sad thing is that some good people are losing out. But, if its any consolation, some bad people are too.

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We all know that to make savings it would be more ecconomical to make cuts to the top of the pyramid not the bottom, but it's those at top of the pyramid that is making the decisions, isn't it ? Oh for a pen to push !

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Its about time GMP became fitter and leaner.

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To those of you ringing your hands in glee and being all high and mighty and smug I suggest you watch Coppers on C4 and then get back to us on whether all the police are lazy, coffee slurping, and doghnut eating slobs. As a citizen and tax payer of Greater Manchester I salute all of you thart work at GMP in all roles and thank you for keeping us all safe and dealing with some of the most difficult people in society.

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out of the 12,000 staff gmp have/had, over 4,000 were civilians. way too many. it's a police force NOT civilian force.

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I think the restricted duties Officers is seriously out of control, If you cannot work as a Police Officer you should not be paid as one.

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Early last year Sue Sim, chief constable of the Northumbria force which has been widely criticised for its handling of the case of fugitive gunman Raoul Moat, accepted a bonus of more than £33,000. Chief constables can receive bonuses worth up to 15% of their salary, deputy chiefs up to 12.5% and assistant chiefs 10%. Some authority's are spending nearly 200k a year on chief officer bonus payments, which equates to approx 10 civilian posts. Time to wake up & smell the coffee people.

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The police authority are hopeless thank goodness they are going!

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