Dorset Police set to axe 248 jobs over budget cuts

Dorset Police has revealed plans to axe 248 jobs over the next year, including 103 officers and 145 staff.

The proposal would see officer numbers reduced from 1,447 to 1,344 - a 7.1% cut - while staff would be cut from 1,059 to 914 - a 14% reduction.

The force said the cuts will help it save £5.9m in the face of a 20% cut in funding from the government over the next four years.

Dorset Police Authority will meet on Friday to discuss the plans.

The force said it has identified a total of about £10m worth of savings for 2011/12.

Chief Constable Martin Baker said: "Dorset Police is constantly seeking to improve its effectiveness and efficiency and the force is already undergoing a fundamental re-organisation.

"This means that the work we have already done is helping us to cope with the government cuts.

"This inevitably means that we are having to make some tough choices in relation to the wide range of policing services that we currently deliver.

"However, the force is doing everything possible to both protect and enhance our front-line services and we are aiming not only to maintain but to improve our already high standards of operational performance."