Sussex Police top union’s list for number of redundancies

The union has warned that it is the ‘thin end of the wedge’ with 3,072 jobs already lost in total and 18,000 are to be cut by 2015.

Sussex tops the list with 12 per cent of the overall police staff redundancies, while across the country women workers are the most affected, making up 64 per cent of the redundancies.

UNISON is currently balloting 1.1 million members, including police members, over Government ministers’ pension plans.

UNISON’s Head of Local Government Heather Wakefield said: “Our figures show the devastation being wrecked across the country, but these cuts are just the thin end of the wedge.

“Forensics officers, PCSOs and 999 call takers are among the police staff carrying out vital roles for community safety.

“The public are not fooled by the Government’s false claims about protecting frontline policing.

“If police staff and PCSOs are cut, then police officers will be forced off the beat and back into the office.

“In the rush to clear the deficit, caused by the bankers, the Government has lost sight of protecting communities, it is not thinking about the real cost of the cuts.

“There is real fear and uncertainty among police staff about job cuts.

“At the same time staff are being hit with changes to their pensions - this is why we are urging police members to vote ‘yes’ in the ballot for action.”

There are 312 staff being made redundant over the next three years, out of 2,599 staff.

Sussex police reported that 311 staff left under a voluntary severance scheme opened in November 2010 and these are included within the total for redundancies.

South Yorkshire and West Midlands police forces both accounted for the second highest number of redundancies with 9 per cent.