A FURTHER 80 police jobs have been earmarked to be scrapped in the latest Wiltshire Police budget.

The policing budget for 2011-12 was set at a meeting of the Wiltshire Police Authority (WPA) and outlined a £4.6m target for efficiency savings and also avoided any increase on the force’s council tax precept.

In November the Adver reported Wiltshire Police, the country’s oldest constabulary, had to slash its budget by £15m over the next four years.

Under the austerity plans, the force will have to shed up to 150 police officer posts and up to 200 police staff posts.

Officer numbers had shrunk from 1,180 to 1,111 as of December last year while support workers decreased from 1,144 to 1,082 – meaning a total reduction of 131 staff.

The 80 jobs outlined in this round of cuts include 67 back-room staff, seven officers and six community support officers.

A recruitment freeze means retiring officers, such as Swindon Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, will not be replaced although the scale of this loss is not yet known.

Earlier this month public consultation on the proposals came to an end following several public meetings, including in Swindon. The WPA also received 1,332 responses to the online questionnaire and much of the feedback wanted to retain the focus community policing and emergency response.

Speaking after the WPA meeting Christopher Hoare, WPA chairman, said: ‘In setting the budget for Wiltshire Police for the coming year, WPA has benefited from knowing the current views and concerns of the public across Wiltshire and Swindon.

“People were really engaged, and their feedback left us in no doubt about what they value most in their policing service and what they want us to protect.

“It’s been quite tough to balance the impact of the funding cuts with the public’s demands for maintaining what matters most to them: securing neighbourhood policing; responding promptly to emergency 999 calls; keeping the public safe on the streets and at home; ensuring an acceptable standard for dealing with general enquiries and non-urgent calls.

“The budget we’ve set enables Wiltshire Police to continue to deliver on these priorities. But we also want to sustain, and where possible strengthen, these essential services over the next four years.

“This, of course, has to be achieved within the restricted funding of the next four years and the harsh reality is that over this period, cost savings of £15m will have to be found.

“Savings of this scale unfortunately cannot be met without an effect on employment levels and there will be some job losses. We recognise that this will be a real set-back for those concerned and we regret that it is necessary.

“But we are confident that the necessary changes can be made without any noticeable interruption to or deterioration in service standards.”