Jobs go as force changes systems

Staffordshire Police is shedding 40 back-office jobs as a £3 million computer system takes over admin roles, it was revealed today.

The force is investing in new systems that will eventually mean officers will no longer have to submit paper forms with details of overtime and expenses claims.

Twenty jobs have already gone, half of the expected final tally.

The equivalent of 80 staff and officers will have been freed up for other duties by the end of the project.

Graham Liddiard, director of resources, said the force was half way through the process, which would save £3.5 million every year.

He said: "We will be moving to a system where officers input the data directly on to the system and will be paid automatically.

"Twenty posts have disappeared as a result of this, but none of them have been compulsory, and they have been through natural turnover or retirement.

"We want to make sure staff and officers are not tied up with bureaucracy."