Nottinghamshire Police redundancy plan approved

Forcing long-serving officers to retire will save an estimated £5.3m in salaries

Moves to force more than 80 long-serving Nottinghamshire police officers to retire as part of wider savings have been approved.

Earlier this week the government confirmed the force's budget settlement would be down by more than £8m.

Nottinghamshire Police Authority has now backed a redundancy plan, including compulsory retirement for officers with 30 years' pensionable service.

Critics have said losing experienced officers is a short-sighted move.

The use of Regulation A19 - the compulsory retirement of police with 30 years' pensionable service - will affect 86 officers, ranging from constables to superintendents.

More redundancies

It is expected to save more than £5.3m in salaries.

Chief Constable Julia Hodson said: "I do not underestimate the gravity of these decisions but they are necessary.

"Despite the tough financial challenges ahead, our ambition is to become the best force in the country over the next five years."

Gedling MP and former Police Minister, Vernon Coaker, said: "These are some of your most experienced officers, some of the officers you need whether they are detectives or fraud investigators or whatever.

"Some of the most senior officers being asked to leave not because it is in the interests of the police but because it helps meet a budget cut."

It was also confirmed a wider process of voluntary redundancies would start soon and, depending on how successful that was, compulsory redundancies may follow.

Funding for police community support officers (PCSOs) has been ring-fenced for the next two years.