A NORTH-EAST police force is promising more bobbies on the beat following the announcement of comprehensive restructuring.
Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, Sean Price, has unveiled his three-year plan, which creates more frontline officers. But the plan also cuts 15 highly-paid senior posts, a move designed to make annual savings of £337,000.
The shake-up would put ten more bobbies on the beat to replace retiring and outgoing superintendents and chief superintendents.
The Force Modernisation Programme aims to put the force on a firm financial footing by 2008 and involves reducing chief superintendent posts from nine to four and reducing the number of superintendent posts from 20 to ten.
Mr Price said: "Our chief superintendents and superintendents are doing an excellent job. They are not being down-graded or made redundant. This is about using their expertise more effectively in the right structure."
The first changes will be implemented this summer and would see each of the four districts under the command of superintendents instead of chief superintendents. The remaining four chief superintendents would take up senior roles at police headquarters, in Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article