About 135 police officers' jobs are set to be cut by Essex Police as part of £7 million savings.

The posts will be gradually shaved off the 3,000-strong force by civilianising office-based jobs and not replacing some staff when they retire.

It will mean there will be fewer police officers countywide. But police chiefs have pledged it will not mean a reduction in the number of frontline bobbies on the beat.

At Colchester - one of the county's busiest policing divisions - it is believed the move could affect as many as 18 posts, including the crime prevention department. At Southend another 16 posts could be affected.

There are fears among serving officers the changes could stretch resources to breaking point - especially in divisions such as Southend which already operates at 21 officers short of its quota.

Announcing the extent of the cuts at a public meeting, police chiefs pledged redundancies will not be made.

Because of a tough Government funding settlement, the shake-up is being considered as one of the options to balance the £166m budget.

There are fears among existing officers the changes could mean the service to the public will suffer and crime could increase. But others believe it will free officers to become more active in police work.

It is cheaper to employ a civilian to do certain jobs than it is do employ a trained police officer.

David Jones, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, which represents officers up to rank of chief inspector, said: "At the end of the day there will be less police officers in Essex.

"What we are keen to ensure is that it doesn't mean the loss of operational officers - we want to continue with the current levels of policing on the street.

"Operational policing is a priority and we hope this can be achieved."

Essex county councillor Anthony Peel, chairman of Essex Police Authority, said he could not confirm the number of posts being re-evaluated.

But he added: "We are not in the business of sacking police officers. There will be no loss of frontline troops.

"The public visibility of police around the place will not be diminished. The idea of civilianising is to get more bobbies out on the beat, not sitting behind a computer or at a desk."

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Cuts will be made across the board but cuts to frontline policing will be kept to a bare minimum."

Exactly where the axe will fall is still under review but plans should be made public next month.

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