Suffolk Chief Constable Simon Ash

BUSINESS leaders in Bury St Edmunds have been given an insight into the drastic cuts and dramatic measures faced by Suffolk police force which have been described by the Chief Constable as the most “challenging” task of his career.

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Chief Constable Simon Ash said the savings and changes were something he had “never experienced” before but it was his job to ensure they happened and delivered an efficient force for the county.

He was speaking at a breakfast meeting of the town’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry just hours before it was revealed the constabulary feared it will not be able to maintain policing levels unless it is granted a 3.75% increase in its share of council tax next year.

The force says it needs to make savings of £16million over a four-year period, rather than the £13.6m it had originally envisaged.

Mr Ash will tell the county’s police authority on Friday that if his recommendation for the council tax precept rise is not accepted he would have concerns over policing levels. The increase would bring in an extra £1.55m, compared to a one-off grant of £1.25m offered by the Government if there is no rise.

If the authority declines Mr Ash’s proposal for 2012/13, police officer numbers would fall below 1,200, which senior officers believe would leave them with serious issues in how to police the county effectively.

At the meeting, held at the Farmers Club, Joanna Spicer, chairman of the police authority, also gave details of plans for the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk which would be held on November 15.

The influential role would lead to the axing of the police authority, with the commissioner setting the budget and holding the chief constable to account with police and crime panels set up in a scrutiny role.

And one man has already shown an interest in the post.

Sir John Wheeler, who lives in Bury and is a former member of John Major’s government, has a wealth of experience behind him, having been an MP from 1979 to 1997.

He is a former chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee who has also served as Security Minister at the Northern Ireland office and a member of the Privy Council.

Sir John has carried out a review of airport security for the UK and Australian governments in light of the 9/11 attacks and published the much-acclaimed Wheeler Report.

He has also carried out advisory work overseas to help establish more effective policing structures and to assess security risks in Pakistan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Canada and Iran.

Many regard him as an ideal candidate for commissioner for Suffolk and, although the 71-year-old has not put his name forward, he said: “If the bugle of duty called I would feel that I would have to answer it.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ash told those attending the chamber breakfast on Friday: “I have never experienced the kind of changes that are taking place.

“But our job is to make the changes happen and that they are the very best for Suffolk even though we have got to take out massive sums of money.