BUDGET cuts of £20million will force Gloucestershire police to have fewer officers on the beat.

Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Martin Surl said the government cutbacks will render the service weaker.

Mr Surl and Chief Constable Suzette Davenport led a police panel at a press conference where the impact of the slashing of the budget was explained.

He said: “The days of having officers out on patrol just in case is not something I can really ask the chief constable to do anymore, the same way you wouldn’t see an ambulance patrolling around in case somebody breaks a leg.”

“Speaking in the context of £20 million cuts, if I want to see my doctor I have to wait several days to get an appointment.

"The service, with £20 million less, might not be quite as good. I’m just trying to be realistic,” he added.

“We’re going to have to be doing less of something and it will be less of what the public would like.” He added that cuts would have to occur but was unable to speculate on the scale of the downsize.

However, there were positive moves announced at the press conference.

It was revealed that developments in mobile technology would see more officers and PCSOs working in their communities and not stuck on computers in stations.

Also, higher levels of freedom for officers will see them deployed beyond their own neighbourhood policing area if they are the nearest resource.

The reorganisation as a result of the reduced budget was described in the panel’s own words as “the most comprehensive review of Gloucestershire Constabulary in 40 years.”

When asked about the effect the changes would have on smaller towns in the county, head of corporate services Hannah Young said: “I think there’s a fear that as we shrink we will see our police going back to the centres of Cheltenham and Gloucester. But actually, what we’ve seen with our changes to scale in our centres is that we’re able to maintain our presence in those smaller communities.”

The first of the changes are due to begin early next year.