FURTHER job losses are on the horizon for Wiltshire Police staff as savings are sought in every area to protect frontline operations.

Yesterday the force announced talks are underway to share support functions and specialist resources with Avon and Somerset Constabulary in a proposed strategic alliance.

With Government grants being cut by more than £10m over the next three years, in addition to the £15m of savings already made by Wiltshire Police, the police and crime commissioner, Angus Macpherson, said all aspects of policing, with the exception of neighbourhood police and response units, would be on the table for discussion.

“This is not about merging forces together but working together to protect front line neighbourhood policing and response teams, which are so important to us in our county,” he said.

“For a long time now we have worked with Avon and Somerset in respect of serious crime and more recently with roads policing and firearms capability.

“We feel the relationships between the senior management teams are mature enough to take this forward, and we will look at further opportunities to work together on a broader scale.

“We will ensure policing of an everyday nature is offered locally, based locally, and run locally.”

A consultation is already under way to raise the police precept element of council tax in Wiltshire and Swindon by£3 a year, which would bring in£345,000 of the £3.26m funding shortfall for next year.

Angus said job losses would be focused on the back room staff.

“We will be looking at the back office of policing and the things that enable our neighbourhood officers to be there, including HR, finance and training, which we currently provide locally but could do alongside Avon and Somerset,” he said.

“There will be jobs that are lost over time and our focus is on service provided. There will be further job losses that is inevitable when you have to take £10m out of your budget.”

Mike White, chairman of the Wiltshire Police Federation, said: “It is vital that the impact on individual police officers are properly considered within any changes that are made.

“It will be our role to represent the views of those police officers in the upcoming discussions.

“Ultimately cuts have consequences.

We can only hope that this is an long standing alliance and not the first step towards the disappearance of a historic and proud police force.”