A LONG-SERVING officer has slammed North Wales Police for recruiting staff for desk jobs, instead of spending on fighting crime on the streets. Mike Bird, who was an officer for 30 years, most of them as a dog handler, launched his attack at a meeting of the Conwy police consultative meeting in Abergele. Senior police officers and representatives of the police authority came under fire from many quarters for the high cost of policing, the clamp-down on speeders and lack of foot patrols. Referring to the large number of job vacancies advertised by NWP in recent months, Mr Bird said: "I think things are becoming too centralised." With particular reference to the post of business manager, he commented: "The police is a service, not a business." He also cited the appointment of a duty management administrator - recently advertised with a salary of £14,793-£16,404 - to organise police officers' rosters. "When I was in the force the sergeants and inspectors did the rotas," said Mr Bird. The chairman, Chris Drew, who is a member of the Police Authority, said that in many ways, such as having to compete with other forces for Goverment funding, the police service was a business. He also said that the staff were needed to comply with Home Office requirements. Responding to the appointment of a rostering administrator, Inspector Ken Jones commented: "Every sergeant and inspector in the whole of North Wales will welcome it because it releases them to do other work. Preparing rotas is time-consuming." At a recent meeting of the authority, when it was revealed that the precept would need to rise by up to 30pc for existing services to be maintained next year, Mr Drew was one of several members who warned that such an increase would be unacceptable. Yesterday, he said: "Out of 43 police authorities North Wales has the ninth highest precept this year. "Members were appalled at the prospects of a 30pc rise. Are we to carry on or should there be some drastic action?" said Mr Drew. * Among vacancies advertised recently by North Wales Police are a benefits evaluator at a salary of £21,135-£22,506, an evidence assessor at £16,896-£18,453, facilities technician at £19,056-20,379 and an intelligence analyst at £19,056-£20,379. | 
