Communities today are immersed in news, and stories about crime often dominate what they read and hear.  20 years ago, we weren’t subjected to such a bombardment and crimes happening in a neighbouring town may not be brought into the consciousness of communities elsewhere.

This undoubtedly has an impact upon how people gauge crime levels.

Some people are speculating about there being an inevitability that crime will rise in the face of financial cuts facing the West Midlands Police.  I challenge this view; this does not have to be an inevitable consequence.  The officers and staff will have to work smarter, perhaps in a few cases harder to continue to deliver a quality service and the levels of protection communities across the West Midlands need.

In April 2010 West Midlands Police went through a major structural change ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the additional challenges that would subsequently bring.  This was with a view to make us leaner and more resilient ahead of having to make some really tough financial decisions and choices.  It also aimed to identify up to £50 million pounds in savings.

Soon, the West Midlands Police will release details of how much this first year of organisational change has identified in savings and where these will come from.  Suffice to say at this time, we enter the first year of the CSR impact having met its first years challenge.

Overall, the Force does have to make savings over the next four years of £126 million.  This will mean fewer officers and staff.  The Force is committed to making sure that through whatever mechanisms become necessary to achieve this, the service and level of protection communities need is maintained.  Work is already moving ahead at a great pace to make this a reality with many of our systems and processes currently under review to remove the associated bureaucracy, waste and duplication.  As a result the look and feel of policing will inevitably change but we remain confident that we will always continue to serve our communities and protect them from harm.

The Force also appreciates the human cost, the anxiety and uncertainty among officers and staff who may ultimately have to leave the organisation.  No one welcomes having to make these choices and we are trying to deal with this with sensitivity and humility.  Similarly, we are absolutely aware of the impact the Winsor review on pay and conditions will have for many staff, but as an organisation we are not alone, and millions of other people are being similarly affected at this difficult time.

I remain totally convinced, from my long service with West Midlands Police, that the officers and staff of this force are dedicated and committed individuals who will continue to do all they can to deliver a quality service.  The police service is unique in this regard and the people who chose to work for the service do so for unselfish reasons.

Read the paper for yourself : http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/pdf/corporate-publications/newsbeat/apr-10.pdf