Shrewsbury police control room closure date looms

The control room in Battlefield, which employs 84 people, is due to shut in 2015 as part of cost-saving plans by Warwickshire Police.

Workers were sent letters before Christmas explaining the "most likely scenario" is that the centre will close by March 2015. The prospect was first mooted in February last year.

West Mercia Police said at the time that it was examining recommendations that the Shrewsbury control room was to shut, with services to be run from the force's southern control room at force headquarters in Hindlip, Worcestershire.

The move is part of the strategic alliance between West Mercia and Warwickshire Police, with a joint blueprint drawn up to help both forces save a combined £30 million by 2016.

No official decision has been announced on whether the Shrewsbury closure will definitely take place, but staff were informed last month that the plans were progressing.

Superintendant Charles Hill said: "To deliver the required savings in accordance with the blueprint means that the closure of Battlefield would need to be in March 2015. I want to be clear that this remains the likely scenario."

Performance

Currently, West Mercia Police also has its Hindlip centre, with Warwickshire Police using a site in Leek Wotton, near Warwick. Work is currently being carried out to identify a potential single control room site for both forces.

Deputy West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Barrie Sheldon said that efforts will be made to find affected staff alternative jobs within the organisation. He added: "The service should remain exactly the same and there should be no drop in performance."

The changes are part of £20.1m of savings West Mercia Police is required to make between 2012 and 2016. The savings programme has resulted in officer numbers being cut and stations closed.

But it was revealed earlier this week that a further £21.8m of cuts will be required of the force between 2016 and 2019.

Mr Sheldon said: "Of the first round of cuts, there are still just under £10 million to be delivered that will be achieved by the end of 2015/16.

"The further cuts are from April 2016. They are not going to impact us at the moment. But we are starting to consider the savings we will have to make between 2016 and 2019."

Earlier this week Ken Mackaill, chairman of the West Mercia Police Federation, said a full merger with Warwickshire would have to be considered after 2016 to help save money and minimise staff cuts.

He added that it would be difficult for the force to cut staff numbers further, after 419 officers and 332 police staff left the organisation between September 2009 and 2013.