It is with an element of sadness that I announce that Humberside Police Mounted Section will be disbanded by 31 March 2014. The decision reflects directly upon the increasing financial pressures on local police in light of the Government’s 20% budget cuts, with that pressure deepening over coming years. My decision reflects no criticism of the police officers and staff who make up the Section. Their commitment and professionalism is outstanding. Whilst they will inevitably feel disappointed, they can feel rightly proud in the service they have provided over the years. The fact remains, however, that only a quarter of police forces in England & Wales maintain a mounted capability and the Humberside Section is one of the smallest remaining. At a time of diminishing budgets, we are having to look long and hard at what services we provide and the contribution they make to tackling local priorities. Whilst we make regular use of mounted patrols, it is simply not justifiable to maintain the Section 365 days of the year when we can buy in mounted officers from neighbouring forces on those few occasions when they are regarded as an operational necessity. Currently, the Section costs £500k per year to maintain. The…

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