Union warns 32 police staff could lose their jobs

More than 30 Humberside Police staff are at risk of losing their jobs, according to Unison.

The union is calling on the force to reconsider plans which it said could affect 32 staff, including investigators and domestic abuse teams.

Humberside Police said the changes were part of Operation Balance, which aimed to save £5m to make the force financially stable.

Chief Constable Chris Todd said the force had been consulting staff and Unison, and added: "These are very difficult decisions for us to make."

Unison said staff who could lose their jobs included 12 investigating officers and three licensing officers.

CCTV specialists, warrant officers and a missing-persons officer could also go, according to the union.

As well as the job losses, the force intended having no police community support officers working beyond 20:00 BST, it added.

Unison has been told the work currently undertaken by the staff at risk would be transferred to police officers.

It also understands that Humberside Police intends to recruit more officers.

Todd said: "As part of the Operation Balance programme, reviews of several teams and departments have been completed to address the force's financial position and future operating model.

"As part of this review, some potential workforce reductions have been identified."

He added: "It isn't as simple as the force deciding the roles should be carried out by someone else; these are very difficult decisions for us to make.

"We recognise the impact they will have on colleagues, but they are essential for the future of Humberside Police."

Natalie Ratcliffe, Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional lead for police, said: "This appears to be a direct attack on some of the lowest-paid workers in Humberside Police.

"These highly-skilled and experienced police staff face losing their livelihoods.

"That's not because their work has disappeared but because the force has decided it should be carried out by someone else.

"These changes will inevitably result in fewer police officers on the streets of Hull, East Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire. The force must reconsider."

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