Over 10,000 full-time police officers will lose their jobs over the next two years as a result of public service funding cuts.

Figures obtained by a national newspaper state over 10,000 police jobs will face the axe within the next two years due to desperate attempts to manage spending cuts of 20 per cent during the first phase of the cuts, announced last year by Home secretary Theresa May.

10,000 back office staff also to be axed

At least 1,000 police personnel will be made redundant in each of the largest metropolitan areas, London, the West Midland and Greater Manchester, with another 10,000 support staff jobs going at the same time, giving the reduced numbers of officers on the front line even less time for policing.

Up to 33 per cent of police authorities are yet to announce job cuts in their regions, which will see totals of job losses rise even higher. Chief constables across the UK are warning of a devastating effect on communities and their residents’ lives, and the parliamentary Labour party is warning the figures will make nonsense of the government’s claims the cuts will be administered with no loss to front line services.

Prior to a government debate on police funding due this week, Shadow Home secretary Yvette Cooper said cutting police budgets so fast and to this extent is not only crazy, it’s about losing touch with communities all over the UK who need to see more ‘bobbies on the beat’. She added chief constables working hard to cut crime are being placed in an impossible position, with the rug being dragged out from under their feet by the present government.

Ministers are already in a delicate position on the issue, with a recent report by Civitas being produced under the headline of ‘2011 – the start of a great decade for Britain’s criminal fraternity’. The widely publicised report went on to suggest the massive funding cuts greatly increased the risk of crime for the general public.

It's clearly a very emotive issue for those officers facing redundancy, those who will be left trying to maintain the service and those in fear of increased crime. A BBC 'Have Your Say' post has already generated over six pages of responses in the first day alone.