Force announces restructure plans

Derbyshire Constabulary has announced it is to change its structure and move from four policing divisions to three.
 
Senior officers met last week to decide how the force could improve efficiency and reduce costs in the face of the tough financial challenges police forces and the public sector faces.
 
Derbyshire Constabulary is the 11th worst funded force in England and Wales and the force needs to save up to £3m for 2010-11, and potentially up to £10m for 2011-12 due to its own and national budget pressures.
 
The three new divisions will be:
 
* Division 1 - to be made up of Derbyshire Dales and High Peak (unchanged from the current B Division)
 
* Division 2 - to be made up of Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire
 
* Division 3 - to be made up of Derby City, Erewash and South Derbyshire
 
The new model is based upon the current 13 policing sections within the county and the force is keen to reassure partners and the public that frontline policing services and Safer Neighbourhood team resources will be maintained or even enhanced.
 
Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "We are faced with a very difficult financial situation but I am confident that we can deliver the necessary savings.
 
"Whilst the exact position in 2011 is still very uncertain, there is no doubt that we will need to make substantial savings due to our Government grant reductions and tighter Council Tax limits.
 
"I want to stress that this is not purely about cutting costs; it is about working smarter. I am committed that through these changes we will either maintain or improve our service to the community.
 
"By changing to three divisions it will allow us to reduce our senior officer numbers and back office support costs. At this stage it is unknown exactly what the reduction in numbers will be.
 
"We will now start work to look at the best ways to put in place this new structure. A key part of this change is that it will enable us to reshape the service we deliver at a divisional level to free up our police officers to deal with more of the risks that we face and deliver a better service to the public.
 
"Derbyshire Constabulary remains an excellent and committed police force and year on year we have seen reductions in crime and very good detection rates. It is my determination to continue this. I want the put the community at the heart of everything we do."
 
Earlier this year the Moving Forward project was set up to examine all aspects of the business and ways more efficiencies could be achieved and how best the organisation could realign services and resources to the most important priorities.
 
As part of this project the force is now also looking to change a number of internal functions and the way in which it works in some areas.
 
Staff, unions and partner organisations have been briefed on the planned divisional restructure and will be engaged over the coming months in regards to any key developments.

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