GMP to make over 200 staff redundant

More than 200 members of police staff are to be made redundant at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the police authority said last week.

The decision was taken following the publication of a report by the force outlining the outcomes of the statutory 90-day consultation period of the Support to Policing review.

Following a full authority meeting, Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) said due to voluntary redundancies and staff moving into other roles, 218 police staff are now at risk of compulsory redundancy. However, with 231 vacancies across the force, every effort will now be made to redeploy staff before the end of the three month notice period.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “This remains a very painful time for GMP and we are just part way through a four-year long process. However we are committed to ensuring that the excellent service provided by the force continues, despite the decisions.

“This is why we are concentrating our efforts to ensure that the affect to frontline policing is kept to a minimum – and we are actually boosting this with an extra 107 police officers who we are moving out from the support roles.”

Although acknowledging that it is a “devastating” time for some staff and their families, Mr Fahy added that the force is left with no option but to transform the way in which certain departments and parts of the force work following budget cuts.

GMPA chairman Paul Murphy said: “There are currently 231 vacancies across GMP and we will continue to work closely with the force and trade unions to redeploy as many staff as possible so that those who want to remain with the organisation have the opportunity to do so.

“This is a very challenging time for the police authority and the force as we find savings of £134 million over four years, while making sure we are in the best possible position to deliver the promises that have been made to the public.”