Union criticises West Midlands Police job cuts proposal

Public safety is being put at risk by "needlessly severe spending cuts" in the police, a union has warned.

Unison West Midlands was speaking after West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims warned more than 2,000 jobs might go.

The cuts would help save £123m over the next four years, he said.

But a Unison spokesman said the cuts would "devastate" the area's police service and that many front-line jobs would disappear.

'Possible scenario'

Charlie Sarell, Unison regional officer, said: "Not only do these cuts mean a loss of 1,100 police officers but the loss of 1,200 police staff as well.

"Police staff include a wide range of important jobs such as forensic scene investigators, police community support officers, inquiry officers, communication/999 operator, coroners officer, force identification unit assistant, intelligence analyst, summons and warrant officer and many other important roles."

Mr Sims was speaking at a police authority meeting when he said the force needed to make the savings.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police explained that the numbers given by Mr Sims were just one of several possible scenarios.

She said the force would not be commenting further until it was aware of the government's spending review outcome.