Cash-strapped force cuts recruitment
January 29th, 2010West Yorkshire Police is to slash its recruitment budget as it faces up to a substantial budget shortfall, according to reports.
The force a projected budget shortfall of £9.4 million next year, and £15.3 million in 2011/12.
According to reports from the BBC, the force is planning a number of money-saving initiatives, including replacing sworn officers in desk jobs with civilian staff and freezing its recruitment programme.
The plans are expected to result in a fall of around 20 – 50 police officers within the force.
The force currently employs 5,784 officers and 4,258 other staff.
The number of officers increased by 10.7 per cent between 2004 and 2009, the second biggest increase in the country, Home Office figures show.
A debate in Parliament recently heard that West Yorkshire Police was missing out on £18m in government cash because of the way the police funding formula is calculated.
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