4:19pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter
Cash-strapped police chiefs believe they can put more officers into neighbourhoods despite job losses and severe cutbacks elsewhere in the force.
Sussex Police warned last year a pledge to create 31 new neighbourhood policing posts could have to be dropped because of the need to make £35 million savings over the next five years.
But chief constable Martin Richards has now told Sussex Police Authority how the new roles can be created even while the force loses 69 officer posts and 13 staff in other departments.
Under Mr Richards's proposals, losses would be fewer than the 99 officers and staff predicted before Christmas and achievable with a 2.74% rise in the force's council tax precept which would bring the police’s average share of council tax to £138.42 per household.
More job losses are expected over the next four years as the search for savings goes on.
Late last year the Government told the authority its spending would be capped if it demanded a tax rise of more than 3%.
The new posts would be made available by reducing the number of new recruits the force takes on.
Senior officers in Brighton and Hove expect no reduction in their officer strength and are only losing one vacant part-time staff post which will not be filled and a retiring staff member who is not being replaced.
Authority members have been told £5.4 million savings have been found for the coming year.
Mr Richards said £30 million savings would be needed between 2011 and 2014, varying between £6 million and £11 million every year.
Senior officers have also suggested measures including cutting hotel bills, mileage and stationery. Thousands of hours of officers’ time have been saved in a Home Office back efficiency drive dubbed Operation Quest.
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