Police will recruit 50 officers despite huge saving needs

CAMBRIDGESHIRE police will recruit 50 new police officers this financial year despite having to make savings of some £17 million.

Chief Constable Simon Parr announced the force’s recruitment plans yesterday and said the county would also be looking for new PCSOs to maintain numbers.

The news comes despite the force having to make savings of £17 million after last year’s spending review - £7 million has been saved over the last 15 months and £5 million worth of savings is expected in 2013.

Ch Con Parr said: “We are going to be making savings in senior managers by reducing the number of those in command.

“Looking back on the last year the staff in the county have responded amazingly to the changes. We have lost 130 to 140 people, all in, and yes, people are worried but they still get up and deliver.”

It has also emerged Cambridgeshire police are preparing for the introduction of elected police commissioners as the Government announced elections could be in autumn 2012.

Ruth Rogers, chairman of the Cambridgeshire Police Authority, said: “We are putting a programme into place to brief anyone who is interested in being a commissioner.”