First day on the job for Merseyside’s new chief constable

Feb 2 2010 by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo

Merseyside Police Jon Murphy

But the new chief already acknowledges some change might be forced upon him.

Merseyside Police Authority could be facing a £30m budget black hole by 2013 and the possibility of having to cut the number of officers.

Mr Murphy said: “The financial pressures may ultimately cause an element of reorganisation. The message is one of stability, but the force needs to be prepared for the future and whatever that may hold.

“The message to the public of Merseyside is if that reorganisation is forced upon us, we will continue to give them as good a service, if not better

“In consultation with the police authority, the overwhelming majority of the public said anti-social behaviour and high-volume low-level crime was what they wanted to see us tackling.

“I want to lead a service that listens to what people say and acts on it.”