POLICE officers will be left "fatigued" under plans to alter their shift patterns, it has been suggested.
In a 32-page document titled The Future Of Humberside Police, published on Tuesday, Chief Constable Justine Curran outlined detailed plans to save the force £32m by 2019.
But Paul Yeomans, chairman of Humberside Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, believes he has well-founded concerns about the likely impact the plans will have on his members.
He said: "While I understand the constraints the force is under, I do have concerns about the new structure and I have raised those concerns, particularly around shift patterns.
"I have been assured that, on paper, the new plan will work. But I have my reservations."
From April, officers will, at least in theory, be expected to work shorter shifts, although they will get fewer rest days.
Mr Yeomans, who has spent 16 years in the force, said: "Shifts are going to be a mix of eight and nine hours.
"At this moment, shifts are nine, 10, and 11 hours, with a few select officers working 12 hours, although that's rare.
"The number of rest days for frontline officers will be going down considerably.
"Currently, officers get 135 rest days a year. It's going to drop to just over 100 days.
"In addition, I expect officers will get fewer complete weekends off, while the number of what we call 'quality rest days' – those where officers will not be sleeping for most of the day following a night shift – will also be considerably reduced."
Mr Yeomans makes the point that officers, as crown servants, cannot leave an incident unless they are relieved.
"The requirement to do more than their set hours will be high," he said. "Police officers do not get a choice. They have to work past their hours, if the need arises."
Under plans to ensure the greatest number of resources are in the locations where they are likely to be needed, some officers face being relocated.
"A lot of my officers have been telling me they're receiving transfer notices," said Mr Yeomans. "There are officers who travel ten to 15 miles to work in Hull, but who will now have to travel 35 miles to Bridlington or another main station."
Mr Yeomans expects the changes to have an adverse effect on officers' health and wellbeing, as well as their family lives. He said: "I anticipate that my officers will find they are getting more tired and sickness rates will increase substantially.
"They are going to be fatigued, particularly with longer travelling times."
Humberside Police is also replacing traditional divisional style policing with a "one- force" model centred around a new "command hub", which will be located somewhere in Hull.
It is thought about 40 per cent of all calls for service will be dealt with by the hub, enabling police to focus on emergencies.
In addition, the report states victims of "very low-level" crime will no longer routinely be visited be police.
Instead, residents will have to book an appointment to see an officer at a police station.
Mr Yeomans said: "With a reduction in numbers, it has to look at alternative ways of meeting demands.
"But I can guarantee police officers will give 100 per cent. Officers, inherently, do that."
