Police force faces £10m cut in spending over next 12 months

As a plan for policing in the area for the next three years was announced yesterday, West Yorkshire Police Authority chair Councillor Mark Burns Williamson warned savings will have to be made.

"The police authority recognises the challenges of the current economic climate and has set a budget for 2010/11 which keeps the costs of policing to a minimum for tax payers but also ensures the chief constable and force have the resources to deliver efficient and effective policing across the wide range of services that are demanded by the public.

"To ensure that costs remain low, over the next year the authority and chief constable will aim to make savings of around 10m. This will be achieved through workforce development, reductions in the force's running costs, and reducing the capital buildings costs to name but a few. We are already looking at where savings and efficiencies can be made in future years, which we know will be more difficult to achieve."

West Yorkshire Police Authority and West Yorkshire Police yesterday agreed a plan which sets out the strategic aims and ambitions to provide policing services to the communities and businesses in the county between 2010 and 2013.

Councillor Burns Williamson said: "While an increase in cash from the Home Office has been received compared with last year's budget, it is still essential that, wherever possible, efficiency savings are made to ensure that residents are seeing value for money from their police force.

"Despite what has been reported recently in some quarters, recruitment of officers to the West Yorkshire Police will continue, albeit at a reduced level compared to previous years."

He added: "By building on successes in recent years and taking a realistic approach to the challenges ahead this policing plan will provide direction and focus in shaping and driving the work of the authority and force in what will be one of the most difficult public spending periods for many years.

"However, the authority are determined to hold the chief constable to account for the delivery of the policing plan which has been jointly agreed."