Kent Police must find £35m of savings in next five years, panel told

Kent Police has earmarked £2.6m in cuts to staff numbers in 2024 alone

Kent Police must find £35m of savings in the next five years with the prospect of job losses and a squeeze on services, according to new paperwork.

The papers submitted to the Kent & Medway Police Crime Panel show £7.3m in savings are needed in 2024-25.

The papers read: "Savings of this magnitude will require difficult decisions to be made around staffing levels within the organisation."

The force has earmarked £2.6m in cuts to staff numbers in 2024 alone.

However, the critical force control room will not face the axe, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The papers, submitted by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott's office, stated: "All decisions will be carefully managed to protect the welfare of staff and minimise the impact to frontline policing."

The panel passed the commissioner's budget for 2024-25.

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