Watchdog warning on losing bobbies

But there was praise for West Mercia Police and Dyfed-Powys Police for managing to keep officers on frontline services despite having to make cuts.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that neighbourhood teams nationally are being stretched with extra work that keeps them in the office, and revealed a third of people had seen fewer police officers on patrol in the past year.

The watchdog also warned that the future of some smaller forces could be at risk in the next three to five years if recent methods used to slash budgets do not change. However, in its inspection of the force covering Shropshire, the HMIC found it had been putting more staff in front line roles.

As the watchdog's latest assessment of how the 43 forces in England and Wales are dealing with 20per cent budget cuts was published, inspector Zoe Billingham said: "Continuing to apply the cost reductions in the same way in the next four years as they've been applied in these four years is not an option, and we're very clear that the viability of some forces could be placed in jeopardy in three to five years' time.

"By that we mean they would have to cut too hard and too deep into neighbourhood policing and they may not be able to guarantee or maintain the service that we're currently seeing to the public."

In the report, published today, HMIC found that West Mercia Police has also increased the number of officers and staff in frontline roles and provided a good quality of service to its communities by reducing crime, despite introducing organisational change of unprecedented scale by entering into its partnership with Warwickshire Police.

Administrative roles have already been merged with Warwickshire Police and the Shropshire Star revealed yesterday that there is likely to be a joint control room, incorporating both police forces, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. The HMIC watchdog today warned that collaboration between forces to save money is inconsistent and doesn't always work.

Overall, in England and Wales between March 2010 and March 2015, the number of police officers has dropped by 16,300, or 11 per cent; the number of staff is down 14,500 or 17 [per cent; and the number of police community support officers (PCSOs) is down 3,600 or 22 per cent. More PCSOs are being lost than was originally planned – an extra 700 are going.

By March 2015 there will be 8,500 fewer officers on the frontline, a drop of seven per cent, although forces have said the proportion on the frontline will be greater, rising from 89 per cent to 92 per cent.

The figures come after it was revealed last week that about half of crimes are not being solved.

Data from 28 police forces in England and Wales released by the Home Office showed that in April and May this year 52 per cent of crimes were classed as "investigation complete, no suspect identified'', meaning that the case is closed unless new evidence comes to light.

But inspectors said West Mercia Police had so far managed to make savings without compromising its main job of fighting crime, a finding welcomed today by the force's crime commissioner Bill Longmore.

Dru Sharpling, HM Inspector of Constabulary for the Wales and Western Region said: "West Mercia Police has already delivered the savings required for the spending review ahead of schedule and is now developing plans for the future.

"A clear focus on value for money is demonstrated through the alliance with Warwickshire Police. The force is extremely well placed to face future financial challenges."