Strathclyde Police numbers to rise despite cash woes

The number of officers is due to increase by 91 in 2010/11

The number of police officers in Scotland's largest force will continue to rise despite budget shortfalls, the chief constable has pledged.

Strathclyde Police has predicted a shortfall of £16.3m this year, which could rise to £59.5m in four years' time, according to a finance report.

Chief Constable Stephen House told the Strathclyde Police Authority the public wanted more officers on the beat.

Members of the authority approved a £442.8m budget for 2010/11.

Mr House told the meeting at the City Chambers in Glasgow that the budget shortfall would be partly covered by reorganisation and a £5m underspend for the financial year to the end of March.

He said: "The whole of the public sector is facing some difficult years.

"We will try at all costs to maintain the number of police officers at its current level, its current record level. And we will try and do that for as long as we can.

This budget is designed to maximise police numbers

Chief Constable Stephen House
Strathclyde Police

"Just to be clear, this budget for next year continues the increase in police officers."

The number of officers would increase by 91 in the 2010/11 financial year, with the budget supporting a total of 8,105 officers, according to papers shown to the authority.

Mr House said he did not deny that "outcomes" were important but said the performance management structure at the force "pushes results very, very strongly".

He added: "I am absolutely 100% confident when I say that what the public want to see in Strathclyde is police officers in uniform, on patrol, on the streets.

"I suppose what I'm doing is saying to you: 'This budget is designed to maximise police numbers.' Not because it's the easy thing to do. Actually it's the difficult thing.

"The easiest thing to do is for me to come here and say we can't balance the books, there's a £60m gap to cover, that we're going to lose hundreds of officers. We're not doing that."

Measures to combat the budget shortfall include a 12-month pay freeze in 2011.

Officials also hoped to make some savings by reviewing travel and accommodation costs, and introducing electronic payslips.