Staffordshire’s newly elected Police Commissioner announced plans tonight to scrap the regulation that forces police officer with 30 years’ service to retire.
Matthew Ellis said the force has “lost a lot of valuable experience” since the A19 regulation – which requires police officers with more than 30 years’ pensionable service (up to and including chief superintendent) to retire – was put in place in November last year.
The Police Commissioner also revealed that Staffordshire Police will be recruiting new police officers – the last new recruits joined the force in February 2010.
He said that more “joint working, efficiencies and collaboration with other agencies” would see the force being able to afford the end of A19 and a recruitment drive and that it was needed to “continue to drive down crime”.
The moves follow discussions with Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, Staffordshire Police Federation – which represents rank-and-file officers – and Staffordshire residents on the pre-election campaign trail.
Matthew Ellis said: “Staffordshire Police has lost a lot of valuable experience since the A19 policy was introduced and has not been able to bring in new blood for even longer. I’ve got ambitious plans for the next three years so I am determined to keep the best talent within the force. This hasn’t been an easy decision but it is the right decision for the police service in Staffordshire so that we can continue to drive down crime. During the next three years I want people across all of Staffordshire to see the positive difference that the role of Police and Crime Commissioner will make.
“Opportunities for more joint working, efficiencies and collaboration with other agencies in Staffordshire will mean that we will meet our financial obligations in the future whilst crucially ensuring that jobs and prosperity stay, wherever possible, within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
