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Police respond to Observer claims

Devon and Cornwall Police HQ, Middlemoor - Library Picture: Roger Cornfoot

Devon and Cornwall Police dispute claims by The Observer newspaper, showing a 25% drop in the number of 'first responder' posts in the region.

In a statement, the force explained that due to the Comprehensive Spending Review imposed by the Government, it has begun restructuring from a "geographical model to a functional model" to increase efficiencies.

With a budgetary challenge, the force admitted that it needs to reduce in size, meaning cuts of 700 officers and 500 staff by 2016.

According to the police, figures released by The Observer were not in context, explaining that not all of the 500 officers that have faced reductions have been removed from frontline policing, with some of those that have re-deployed to crime and neighbourhood roles, offering visibility and availability.

Meetings by appointment to deal with low-level crime and the increasing use of Police Community Support officers were cited as viable cost-cutting measures.

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