HUNDREDS of serving police officers will be replaced by civilians to save money, according to a report into Essex Police.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary carried out reviews into every police force in the UK and specifically how well they are planning for the future.

Essex Police has to cut bills by more than £63million.

Progress has been rated as “good” by the HMIC.

Essex Police is expected to cut police officer numbers by about 450 by 2018/19.

Thiis would represent a 15 per cent cut in Essex, compared to the average six per cent cut elsewhere.

It will also mean the county will have lost about a third of its officers in nine years.

The report states: “Over the next three years it is predicted the number of police officers will fall by 447 with the numbers of police staff employees increasing by approximately 200.

“Many of the new police staff employees will bring civilian investigative support to teams of detectives.

“This is designed to build capacity and bring resilience to the force’s overall investigative capability, which is currently below that required due to previous lack of investment in the area.

“While the force recognises its weakness in this area, the work to resolve the issue will be a quick fix and the area will remain of concern.”

Essex Police has balanced its budget for last year and this year but has had to make large cuts to do so.

Earlier this month it announced plans to slash PCSO numbers.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said: “Essex Police is adequately prepared to face its future financial challenges, and we have judged the force to be good.

“Through effective financial management and accurate budgeting, the force is successfully making the savings required of it.

“These plans are well developed, they are ambitious and are yet to be tested in reality.”

Police forces will have made £4.2billion in savings in nine years - or about 40 per cent in real terms.

Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said: "We are in the middle of a decade that will see policing budgets in Essex cut by a third and it’s vital that independent reports such as this confirm we’re managing those reductions well in order to keep the county safe.

"The future will see fewer police officers and PCSOs, but it will also mean a smarter, more effective use of reducing resources. Through good planning we are more able than ever to understand what threats, risks and harm are out there facing the people of Essex and prioritise our response so we provide the best service we can with the money we’re given.”

Essex had 2,300 open incidents at the start of the summer. It is down to fewer than 700.

The report into future plans at Essex Police found:

- It has “good” plans in place to make savings.

- It has balanced the budget for this year.

- The force lacks detectives.

- Officers and staff have been moved to support vulnerable people but they are not all appropriately trained or experienced.

- The force is using new software such as Athena to help with its work but the system has flaws and issues which are frustrating the workforce.

- Investigations are taking too long.

- There is an “unacceptable” backlog when it comes to responding to calls and reports of crimes meaing too many “unresolved open incidents”.

- The force works well in collaboration with Kent and was praised for its “far-reaching” plans to work with other authorities to make savings.

- Essex residents pay £93 for police officers, £133 for the total workforce with band D residents paying about £150.

- The national average is £115 for police officers, £165 for workforce and band D residents paying about £180.

- Crime is up in Essex and victim satisfaction is down.