POLICE officers in Essex are concerned for public safety because £72.5 million of cuts are "eroding" the force.
Essex Police Federation, the organisation that represents the county's officers, launched its three-month Cuts Have Consequences campaign yesterday (January 6).
Its first report said more than 90 per cent of its officers from a 1,000-strong survey were concerned for public safety, cannot provide prompt response times and think policing has deteriorated since 2010 because of cutbacks.
"The Government can't continue to cut in the way that they have been otherwise it will be the end of policing as we know it," said federation chairman Mark Smith.
The campaign aims to spell out exactly how Government cuts are affecting front line services at Essex Police and to persuade politicians to avoid cutting its budget further in the future.
The force has already shaved £42 million off its budget and has been tasked with saving a further £30.5 million by April 2017.
There are 410 fewer officers in Essex than in 2010 and this is predicted to rise to 600 fewer by 2016.
The force's marine unit was reduced, its police dog numbers cut from 52 to 40, its roads policing officers reduced from 161 to 103 and its firearms officers cut from 109 to 79 by December 2014.
The federation says 21 police stations have been closed to the public and hours restricted at another 16.
The campaign, which will stop by April so as not to interfere with the General Election, encourages residents to lobby their MPs.
Two thirds of the force's funding comes from central government and the rest from local council tax charges.
"The police service is being eroded, neighbourhood policing is being eroded and our members are worried about the level of service they can provide to the public as a result of ongoing cuts," added Mr Smith.
"For the public of Essex this means a poorer service with fewer front line police officers.
"When the public are being told that 'the front line is being protected' – this we are afraid is very far from the truth.
"We can only provide you with the service you are entitled to if we are funded correctly."
The campaign, which Mr Smith says is the first of its kind nationwide, received 40,000 views via www.cutshaveconsequences.co.uk within an hour of going live.
"No other federation has thought of this but they wish they had," said Mr Smith.
