POLICE and civilian officers will continue to give 100 per cent service to Humberside Police despite swinging cutbacks.
That was the view of union representatives who said there is no blame on Chief Constable Justine Curran nor Police And Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove for the job losses.
Harry Berry, branch secretary for Unison, which represents hundreds of civilian staff at Humberside Police, said consultations had already begun on job losses at Grimsby Police Station.
As reported, the control room based at the station will be shutdown and some staff transferred to a central control room in Hull.
Staff were written to last month inviting expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy as the Force's leadership aimed to make savings of £31 million by 2019 due to Central Government's austerity measures.
But many of the 500 or more job losses among police civilians in the Humberside Force are expected to come before April.
Around half of the 150 investigation officers in Humberside Police are due to be axed with the majority of those remaining being based in Hull in future. Some will remain in Grimsby Police Station.
Unison assistant branch secretary Tony Green said: "All of the functions appear to be going to the North Bank. There is a risk that all that knowledge of the local area will be lost.
"Staff are extremely upset and distressed. Morale is at rock bottom. But this is because of Central Government's total disregard for public service."
Mr Berry said: "The Police And Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable are having to do the best with what they are given. It is not their fault.
"We are going to have at least 500 jobs going, on top of the 300 we have already had. If this Government gets in again they have warned there will be a further £10 million more cuts on top of those we have already had."
He added: "It is looking like the Government is forcing the hand of our police forces and getting them to do more regional working and increased privatisation, which means an end to local accountability."
The Unison spokesman said: "We understand there had to be austerity measures. The police were always going to take a hit. But it is the scale and the fact the bulk of the cuts are coming in the first two years.
"Once these people are gone that is it.
"If funding became available again in the future you can't go and buy a box full of trained officers. You cannot buy experience.
"Are we really going to sacrifice all these people for the sake of cuts? No amount of modernisation with new tablet devices is going to replace 1,000 people.
"Police officers are already hard-pushed but they will be expected to back fill roles that are being lost. It does not seem right putting a bigger burden on police officers.
"Many of our members give 100 per cent, despite being fearful of their jobs and carry out extra roles as Special Constables
"It is not of the Force's making, it is Government."
