'Difficult time ahead for force'

POLICE CHIEF FACES UP TO THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

- BY LAYCIE BECK [e-mail]

THERE will be no significant changes or reductions at Lincolnshire Police thanks to a temporary financial support package, the chief constable has said. But Paul Gibson admitted there are “more difficult months ahead” as he reflected on his first year in the role in Lincolnshire, and the changes he has seen since he previously worked for the force several years ago.

He stated: “Our communities must be well used to hearing us talk about money and because it has been an ongoing conversation for many years, the message has proba bly lost its impact, to a degree.

“But the reason we do try to keep the topic at the forefront of minds is because it's so important to us and what we are able to do, and therefore so important to you and the level of service you receive if you need us.”

“Our conversations with people outside of Lincolnshire Police who can assist with our funding situation have been ongoing since the start of my tenure here and have acceler ated in recent months as part of the force being placed in the enhanced monitoring phase known as 'Engage' because of our most recent HMICFRS inspection.