More than 30 additional officers are to be allocated to policing in Coventry under the latest move aimed at bringing policing closer to the local community.

Just under 300 constable posts are to be moved from West Midlands Police HQ support posts to operational command units in the latest in a series of measures introduced by the force to increase the number of frontline officers on the street, 200 posts were transferred out in 1998.

Announcing the changes, Chief Constable Edward Crew said local policing had been shown to work.

"In the past 18 months we have made excellent progress in the fight against crime. Many areas of serious crime, such as robbery and burglary, are down and we have seen increases in the number of offences defected.

"We need to continue this – and to do that we need police officers where they are needed most – at the frontline, working with the local community."

Superintendent Phil Ellis, who heads the Chace Avenue Operational Command Unit, welcomed the support being given to local policing.

He said:

"The three commanders in Coventry support the Chief Constable drive to reduce the numbers of officers working at the centre in Headquarters departments.

"Policing is about local service of the highest possible quality. Solving problems in partnership with all the other agencies and with our local communities. To do this effectively we need more officers working on their sectors and on their beats getting to know their communities.

"But making headquarters departments leaner should not mean reduced support in service. Indeed it will focus the remaining specialists in headquarters departments in dealing with high level criminally and at the same time bring some of their expertise and professionalism back out to the point of service delivery on operational command units.

"The last twenty months has seen the West Midlands Police, including the officers in Coventry, show significant increases in performance and these successes are because of our hard working and dedicated workforce working closer with their communities. This is what sector policing should deliver. We should thank our officers and support staff for what they have achieved and we should give these new measures out full support."

Over the last 18 months the force has increased the number of frontline officers by 600 by reorganising support roles and these new transfers will add to that.

"As a result of the streamlining of senior posts we have already carried out, this force has bucked the national trend and we have been able to continue recruiting officers while other forces are facing reductions," said Mr Crew.

"Since last June we have increased the number of police constable posts by 317 – and we hope to continue recruiting despite facing major budget constraints in the future," he added.

The number of posts in several HQ departments will be reduced and two departments, the Mounted Branch and the Underwater Search Unit, will be disestablished, with the posts transferred to local policing. On occasions, the Underwater Search Unit may need to come together on a short term basis for a specialist operation.

"These decisions have been difficult but it is important to remember that apart from the high cost of running some of these units, policing has changed considerably over the last decade or so. We are not getting the return on our investment and we are only providing those units at the expense of the bobby on the beat that the public wants.

"All organisations have to change and adapt and we are no different. What was appropriate several years ago may not be appropriate for modern policing as we approach the Millennium and difficult decisions have to be made."

Although the Major Investigation Teams will stay, the number of posts will be reduced and those posts transferred to OCUs will strengthen their ability to detect and deal with local crime and support major investigations. The Major Investigation Teams will still assist with serious and cross-border crimes.

Mr Crew said teams of specialists officers would remain at the centre, providing the necessary skills and support to operational officers. The changes will be phased in over the next 12 months.

The changes will mean that operational command units will each receive between 7 and 14 additional police posts.

"The changes we have already made have shown clear benefits an we are determined they will continue. Time and time again, we have shown that policing works when it is based locally, working alongside the local community," said Mr Crew.

"We need to ensure our money is used wisely and although these have been difficult decisions they have been necessary to ensure he most effective and efficient use of our resources.

"These changes will allow us to continue the good progress we have already made and result in a better service to the people of the West Midlands."

Trevor Forbes, secretary of the Police Federation in the West Midlands, said that the need for the changes were recognised by officers.

He said:

"I am aware that there are changes necessary with decentralisation out to OCUs. I am grateful to the Chief Constable for giving us confidential advance notice of the plans, for it enables us to prepare for the anticipated calls from worried officers.

"We have concerns over the planned reduction with obvious worries over operational support to frontline officers and the necessity to tackle the hardline criminal fraternity.

"However, it is a fine balance when we always have to give our full support to the OCU officers and the need for their strength to increase. The Chief Constable has had to make difficult decisions which are to some unpopular, at a time when budget and finance are tighter year on year.

"I have to register my concern that officers feel let down and demoralised because local newspapers circulated news about decentralisation before they had been advised by their managers, and this is most disappointing to all of us within West Midlands Police. However, I do understand that the Chief Constable had a responsibility to advice the police authority yesterday. Thursday 21 January."