Police forced to cut 80 jobs in commissioner's latest budget

FOR SOME RESIDENTS, THE AMOUNT OF COUNCIL TAX THAT GOES TOWARDS POLICING WILL RISE

- By SOPHIE FAGONE BUSCIMESE

A TOTAL of 80 police jobs are being lost across Derbyshire as part of the police and crime commissioner's new budget.

Derbyshire's commissioner, Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts, has published details of her budget for 2026/27 ahead of presenting it to the police and crime panel on Wednesday.

Next to her bid to increase the amount of council tax local residents will pay towards policing and community safety, it was also announced that 80 posts in force would either not be re-recruited or terminated.

Ms Ndiweni-Roberts said: "By March 2027, significant savings of over £25 million will have been delivered since 2023 but, after doing all we can to protect as many jobs as possible over the years, the situation has now reached the point where police staff numbers are affected.

"As part of the government's neighbourhood policing guarantee, we will continue to increase police officers, PCSOs and special constables as and when they release the next tranche of funding, ringfenced to deliver visible police presence in our communities.

"Of the roughly 1,500 current police staff posts held at the constabulary, we are seeing the loss of 80 posts. Without this increase, the position would be far worse."

Derbyshire police confirmed that a restructuring was taking place to "minimise the impact to the public", and that the termination of roles had been the force's "last resort".