Police fighting plan to make them quit

Dozens of West Midlands Police officers have fought a controversial move to make them retire after completing 30 years of service, figures revealed today.

The plan has affected 189 officers who would have served for 30 years or more by March 31 this year.

The move, which was approved in December, is part of the force's plan to save £123 million over the coming years.

It has put an end to the practice of officers retiring for one day, collecting their lump sums and then immediately rejoining the force.

But it has sparked anger from some in the force because it will end the careers of well-respected detectives with vast local knowledge.

Today it was revealed that 14 affected officers had volunteered to retire before March, and the cases of the remaining 175 were considered by chiefs.

Of those, 77 officers complained that they should not be made to leave.

But the force has now ruled that 170 officers will have to retire by March 31.

Four officers have had their retirement dates deferred for up to four months and one officer, who has been seconded to the West Midlands from another area, will be allowed to stay until he returns to his own force.

A new report by Chief Constable Chris Sims said 11 officers were now taking their appeals against forced retirement to the police authority. Grounds for appeal included a failure to follow correct procedures, or if the "specialist nature of their skills and duties" meant the decision should be deferred.

Today a senior West Midlands Police source admitted experienced officers were being lost but said the force was prepared for it. "We have to save horrendous amounts of money and we don't live in an ideal world where people can continue to work indefinitely."

It was also revealed that 100 police jobs have gone since March 2010, along with 128 staff posts and 13 community support officers.