POLICE in Dorset are bracing themselves for cuts after a study revealed up to 60,000 jobs could be lost across England and Wales.

The respected Jane’s Police Review magazine studied budget requirements in all 43 force areas and came up with the figure based on possible 40 per cent cuts in government departments.

It concedes 25 per cent reductions are more likely but said heavy losses are likely because the police service is not on the list of protected services and Home Secretary Theresa May has warned that it can expect its fair share of cuts.

Dr Tim Brain, recently retired Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, told the magazine: “Obviously we don’t yet know the results of spending reviews until the autumn but, in the meantime, there are some clues.

“This will mean fewer personnel for patrol, response and investigation duties. “The big question is: are the leaders of the service, its representatives and the public ready to accept reductions on such a scale?”

Dorset currently has 1,505 police officers, 159 Police Community Support Officers and 1,067 members of staff. If the cuts are as widespread as predicted, hundreds of jobs could be lost in the county.

But chairman of Dorset Police Federation, Clive Chamberlain, dismissed the predictions as “pure speculation”.

He said: “If they cut police numbers any more it would be like having an Army without any soldiers.”

He said Dorset Police receives the second worst funding in England and Wales from the government so may not be hit as hard as others by the cuts.

Simon Merry, Dorset Police’s head of corporate development, said: “The extent of the government funding cut is still unknown and the impact on officers is not yet clear.

“However, we are examining ways to maintain our frontline services to ensure people and communities remain protected and safe.”