West Yorkshire Police’s crack crimebusting squad has been judged to be dealing effectively with major investigations, despite a greater workload and cutbacks in the number of detectives.

The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team’s budget for this year was slashed from £12.3 million to £11.9m, and officers and staff in the unit have been reduced from 228 to 191.

But members of West Yorkshire Police Authority’s specialist policing committee are satisfied HMET is dealing effectively and efficiently with the Force’s major crime investigations. The number of detective superintendent senior investigating officer posts has been halved, from six to three, and detective sergeants in each team cut from four to three. But senior investigating officers at detective chief inspector level have been introduced.

A report by West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison to the committee highlighted a significant increase in investigations handled by HMET during the current year. The team has also taken on extra responsibilities, including for all firearm discharge incidents in West Yorkshire.

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