Tayside Police are to make savings of £1.2 million in salaries through a voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme as part of the force’s plans to save £4.3 million next year.
Chief Constable Justine Curran will give further details of the programme to members of Tayside Joint Police Board on Monday.
In a report to councillors she said applications from staff have yet to be examined for affordability, impact on service and need to back-fill any of the posts with police officers.
The force is also preparing to run an out-of-hours call-handling service for Perth and Kinross Council that would net the police £6000 and also save the council money. A feasibility study to extend it to Angus and Dundee councils is being explored.
The proposals are contained in a report updating councillors on what is being done to meet funding challenges in the coming years.
Tayside Police is facing a better than average cut in revenue support grant than other forces and the sums from its three constituent councils have been reduced.
However, the Scottish Government wants police numbers maintained, which means Tayside must find £4.302 million in savings next year without cutting back its 1229 police officers. Details of the full three-year Scottish budget will not be known until this autumn.
Ms Curran said savings should result from the quad-force group comprising Tayside, Fife, Central and Lothian and Borders collaborating in roads policing, firearms provision, legal services and training.
The four forces are also looking at working together in special branch, professional standards, criminal justice and central ticketing.Collaborative workingThe Perth call-handing scheme is felt to be superior to the existing arrangements. Its benefits include quicker response and the possibility of further collaborative working but the scheme can only go ahead with the Scottish Government’s permission.
Tayside Police is also preparing a business case for a joint call centre with Tayside Fire and Rescue.
The freeze on police recruitment has been lifted and, allowing for staff departures through voluntary redundancy and early retirement, the force is seeking to keep officer numbers at 1229 throughout 2011/12.
There may be high-level structural changes to ensure the force remains fit for purpose after the predicted budget cuts. Proposals for these are being discussed with senior managers.
Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has outlined plans for major Scottish police service reforms, including moving to a single Scottish force.
Other options include cutting the number of forces from eight to three or four. The reforms were outlined in a new consultation with ministers, stressing that maintaining the current set-up was not an option.
Fire and rescue services will also be reviewed and Mr MacAskill said there was already a compelling case for a national service.
Ministers said cash must be saved without affecting frontline operations.