The number of police officers will fall by 12,000 and a further 16,000 police staff jobs will go over the next four years as a result of Home Office spending cuts, ministers have been warned.
The estimate of the job losses across the 43 forces in England and Wales has been made by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) as senior officers try to deal with a 20 per cent cut in central government grants to local forces.
The estimate is based on actual cuts already decided by police authorities and projections of those forces that have not settled on final figures.
The claim comes as a report published today recommends cuts in overtime and special payments to officers as part of the biggest overhaul of police pay and conditions since 1993.
The review, by the former rail regulator Tom Winsor, is thought to call for cutting £180 million from annual bonuses by scrapping special priority payments given to selected officers at Christmas and competency threshold payments.
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The report heralds a real squeeze on police officer incomes as Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has already suggested a two-year pay freeze for police officers.
Last night a spokesman for Acpo said that the 28,000 job loss total was a snapshot figure and could increase if disillusioned officers decided to leave the service.
Ministers insist that there is no link between police officer numbers and crime, though they will be anxious to avoid a bruising battle with rank and file police officers that could damage the Conservative Party’s reputation on law and order.
Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said that the proposed cuts in take-home pay came on top of a two-year pay freeze for officers.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “For some officers, this is a massive cut. I know some of the Government have never had to pay a mortgage, so they don’t understand what it is to live on a budget, but for many officers it is going to mean them losing their homes or not being able to put the heating on.
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“That is the reality for people out there and they are very angry and upset about a Government that is out of touch and doesn’t understand policing.”
Mr McKeever said officers were angry at “spin” which suggested that they were routinely claiming excessive and unjustified overtime.
“Police officers are very angry about the spin and negative stories coming from Home Office advisers,” he said.
“They are selecting some very isolated examples to try to taint a very proud police service which is highly regarded around the world. Some of these stories are patently false and many are great distortions.”
Nick Herbert, the Policing Minister, said: “We have to deal with the deficit, and police forces can and must make savings, focusing on back and middle office functions like IT and procurement so that frontline services can be protected.
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“But when three-quarters of force budgets goes on pay, reform of pay and conditions is also essential to protect police jobs and keep officers on the streets.”
Police pay
PC £23,259 - £36,519
Sergeant £36,519 - £41,040
Inspector £46,788 - £50,751
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Chief Inspector £51,789 - £53,919
Superintendent £62,298 - £75,909
Chief Superintendent £74,394 - £78,636
Potential add-ons:
Special Priority Payment - £500 - £3,000
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Competence Payment (after 10 years) - £1,212
London Weighting - £2,277
London Allowance - £1,011
SE England Allowance - £1-2,000
Dog Handler’s Allowance - £2,133
Motor Vehicle allowance - £1,239