EXMOUTH S police chief has said he does not expect there to be any job cuts to officers who work on the frontline in the foreseeable future. It was revealed last week that 180 posts are to be lost following the police authority s budget. Inspector Jez Cap

EXMOUTH'S police chief has said he does not expect there to be any job cuts to officers who work on the frontline in the foreseeable future.

It was revealed last week that 180 posts are to be lost following the police authority's budget.

Inspector Jez Capey said: "As I understand things at the moment, there will be no cuts made to frontline policing in Exmouth. I believe they are targeting what is called 'backroom functions.'

Despite a five per cent rise in the police's share of council tax - about �7 a year - it is understood that public spending cuts means the force needs to save �14m over three years.

It expects to get rid of 60 jobs in the coming financial year and a further 120 posts the following two years.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall police said there were no specific details in place as yet regarding the 'proposed cuts' and nothing had been decided about the areas in which job losses may occur.

Chief Constable Stephen Otter said everything possible would be done to minimise the impact on the public.

Devon and Cornwall Police has around 3,500 officers. The planned reduction is less than the 300 which Chief Constable Otter had predicted.

"It is vital that the public judge our success by the service they receive and not the number of officers we have," said Mr Otter.

"Whatever our budgetary constraints, the public must continue to believe that they get a good level of service from us."

The �270m budget is based on receiving no increase in funding between 2011 and 2013 and yearly increases of 4.95 per cent, but a change of government at the general election could alter that.

Mr Otter added: "It is essential now that, when planning for the future, we focus on our core business, putting the right people with the right skills in the right place across the whole force area.

"Whatever our budgetary constraints, the public must continue to believe that they get a good level of service from us.

"We are working hard to identify further savings which we can make as an organisation to ensure we maintain our current level of policing for the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.