Police bosses want power to fire frontline officers

Police bosses are lobbying for the power to introduce compulsory redundancies for officers in a bid to modernise forces and save millions of pounds. That’s according to a confidential report issued to ministers.

Presently, officers have the right to a ‘job for life’. However, chief constables say there is 'considerable support’ to remove this right and introduce compulsory redundancies as the need for flexibility to 'manage people costs' increases.

Senior officers met to discuss future budget reductions. Saying they posed a 'considerable risk to national security' as grants cut by more than a quarter by 2020 will mean the loss of many police on the streets and patrol cars.

Bosses have said that unless they cut officer numbers dramatically, some forces may go bankrupt as most of their budgets go on wages. In addition, fewer officers will retire or leave voluntarily to balance cuts due to come in by 2020.