POLICE officers in Dorset may be forced to give up investigating low-level offences due to a lack of finances.

The revelation comes after the Bournemouth Echo reported on Friday that the number of traffic officers has been slashed by more than a quarter since 2009.

Crime chiefs came together to discuss the future of policing in Dorset at a meeting held at Police Headquarters in Winfrith.

At the meeting Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill, was asked whether Dorset Police will stop investigating low-level crimes to save funds.

This comes after the Metropolitan Police made the decision to stop investigating low-level crimes including shoplifting and burglary to meet the latest round of policing cuts. Mr Underhill explained: “We are not in that place yet. If the financial settlement continues to be flat cash and the merger doesn’t happen, Dorset could be in the same situation as other forces.

“It needs to be examined, but we could be forced to look at what other forces have been forced to do.”

Bedfordshire Police are another force that has felt the strain of policing cuts. Kathryn Holloway, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire said the county faced becoming the retail theft capital of the UK after the force could no longer afford to attend retail thefts of less than £100.

Mr Underhill explained the decision will depend on finances going forward. He added: “It is not set in black and white.”

The police’s latest financial settlement is expected to be revealed next week.

Mr Underhill also gave an update on plans to merge Dorset Police with Devon and Cornwall Police.

He said: “We are still waiting for a letter from the policing minister. We can’t put our business case for the merger forward until then.

“If they say yes then we will consult next summer and will be looking to give the business case to the government this time next year. Implementation is expected to take place around November 2019. We would have to make the decision before the PCC elections.”

Chief Superintendent Colin Searle, Head of Territorial Policing, added: “What resources I am given I will make effective decisions to make sure we do the best policing we can within our financial envelope. We will no doubt have to make hard decisions.”