TWO Boscombe councillors are set to make an impassioned plea to police chiefs over the future of Boscombe Police Station today.

Councillors Mike Everingham and Phil Stanley-Watts will attend the Dorset Police Authority meeting today where Chief Constable Martin Baker will outline the scope for savings needed for the next four years in a report.

This year's budget of £120.4million for 2011/12 provides for 1,344 police officers, a drop of 103 officers from current levels, and 914 police staff, a reduction of 145.

This means that 248 jobs could go in the next 12 months and in a worst case scenario an additional 81 officers and 174 staff could also be lost within the next three years.

Boscombe Police Station and other smaller police stations which do not open around the clock have been rumoured to be facing the axe.

Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts said: "We are very concerned about the police cuts. We hope to be allowed to speak up at the meeting because we know how residents of Boscombe feel about their police station.

"I will appeal to them to safeguard Boscombe Police Station and frontline police. That is very important, especially with the Olympics and the Royal wedding at the end of April."

Cllr Everingham said: "I do realise they have got to find ways of cutting back but plan to ask them to find ways of not closing the place because it's desperately needed.

"In a place like Boscombe with a mixed community it is absolutely vital to be able to walk into a police station."