Police cuts poser (From York Press)

Police cuts poser

11:40am Monday 30th January 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

THE letter in The Press of January 24 highlights North Yorkshire Police and their reduction of officers.

Last year, I drew to the attention of the chief constable that should he reduce police numbers below the optimum 1,500, he would be treating the public of North Yorkshire with contempt.

This was because finance was not an issue: the police authority has investments of £52 million plus and £29 million in so-called reserves.

Since the end of 2006, it has been able to save some £36 million when it reduced police numbers by 220, thus saving £7 million yearly.

These reserves and savings total some £175 million and suggest that North Yorkshire Police must be the best equipped and financed force in the country; so why reduce the numbers?

We have fewer police than we had in 2002 and to replace the reduction of the 220 constables, they used 630 support staff.

Mr P Richardson, York Road, Haxby, York.