Nathan Wright, 19, a Brockenhurst College from Ferndown, said: “I don’t think it’s good to be cutting police numbers.

“For such a small amount it’s worth it, even if it’s just to keep the jobs, because so many people are going out of work.”

• Oliver Jones, 39, a sales manager from Pokesdown in Bournemouth, said: “I would’ve been 100 per cent prepared to pay.

“It’s madness to cut the police during a recession because people aren’t working and crime rates are going to go up.”

• Terry Bishop, 68, retired, from Ringwood, said: “Money is tight so they will have to take a hit.

“They are supposed to be the experts and they should do their best with what they have got.

“Everybody is taking cuts, I am for sure.”

• Alan Patterson, 34, an auditor from Charminster in Bournemouth, said: “It’s clearly a period of austerity and everyone is conscious of how they are spending money.

“There are more superficial things they could cut.”