AROUND 300 police officer jobs are likely to be cut over the next four years, according to the chief of Hampshire police.

Hampshire Police Authority has approved a budget that will see the force save £20 million in the forthcoming financial year.

But last night, Chief Constable Alex Marshall vowed that the streets of Hampshire would be kept safe with no reduction in numbers on the frontline over the next year and said he was "increasingly confident" it would remain that way until 2015, despite the force looking to save £50m by then.

He added that the force would employ around 1,000 fewer people by 2015.

Over a four-year period, Chief Con Marshall said the force would be reducing the number of bosses, removing police officers from back office roles, joining some specialist and IT departments with Thames Valley Police, centralising and reducing numbers in areas like human resources as well as having fewer police buildings.

“There will be fewer bosses, fewer people checking and there are risks associated,” he said.

“With fewer bosses and fewer people, checking won’t be done, but in a world where the budget is greatly reduced I have to invest where people need policing the most and that’s in the local neighbourhoods.”

Budget measures approved yesterday included cutting 79 “supervisory” police officer jobs, saving £4.1m, and removing 82 vacant police officer posts to cut a further £3.45m.

Scrapping unfilled police staff roles will save a further £1.1m and overtime reductions will save £779,000.

Other cost-cutting measures include reducing expenditure on mobile phones and hire cars.

Asked whether smaller police stations such as Fordingbridge could close, a spokesman responded: “Sorry, we’re unable to answer these questions at this time.”

The authority agreed there would be no increase in its council tax precept, which will remain at £146.25 for an average Band D property.

• Dorset Police has already revealed it could have to axe 248 posts. Its budget cuts will be discussed by the police authority on Friday.