The road policing unit at Brentwood faces the axe under new cost-cutting plans.

The traffic police unit at London Road, Brentwood, could be disbanded and operated from Chigwell.

The radical decision is set to be taken at a meeting of Essex Police support service policy group on January 2.

Essex Police stresses it is confident of maintaining a "high quality" road policing service if the plan goes ahead.

Another money saving measure on the cards is the privatisation of the Essex police diving unit.

The police authority says it has been forced to look for cuts as part of the annual budget review for the next financial year.

The force is to receive a budget increase of 2.3 per cent from the Government - one of the lowest increases in the country.

And although other grants from the Government are topping it up to a 4.1 per cent increase, savings are still being sought.

An Essex police spokesman said: "Essex is an extremely busy county. The population is growing and in April 2000 we took over new territory from the Metropolitan Police when Loughton became part of the Harlow division."

The Brentwood unit currently has 25 officers who will to transferred to other road policing units, including Chigwell, Laindon and Rayleigh, if the proposals go-ahead.

The spokesman said: "Essex Police is confident it can maintain a high quality road policing service. It runs one of the most professional and well resourced road policing units in the country. Vehicles will still be policing in Brentwood."

The marine unit, police dogs and the force helicopter, which are also part of the Mobile Support Division, are not included in the proposed cuts.

Published Friday December 28, 2001