by Martin Jefferies

The full extent of government ordered police cuts has finally been revealed today - with around 1,500 crime-fighters and staff facing the axe.

After months of speculation, Kent Police confirmed the number - which includes hundreds of officers - will go in a major shake-up of the force.

Policing areas in the county will also be cut from six to three divisions to streamline the force.

The new divisions will be East Kent, West Kent and North Kent and Medway.

Kent Police needs to cut 20 per cent (£53 million) from its budget over the next four years.

But the force's top brass insist 'front line' policing will be protected.

It plans to increase the number of neighbourhood officers by 50 per cent from around 800 officers and staff to 1,200.

The changes were rubberstamped by Kent Police Authority yesterday and publicly announced today.

Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: "I am determined that front line policing is prioritised as part of our restructuring plans.

"The Police Authority has endorsed a new model that will see 50 per cent more officers for neighbourhood policing.

"This will provide a quicker and more efficient response to persistent policing problems, helping us get it right first time, working with local people to ensure crime and disorder are effectively tackled.

"It has been an extremely challenging process, and it certainly wont be pain-free as we need to make a twenty per cent budget reduction, which equates to 1,000 staff posts and 500 officers.

"We are fundamentally redesigning the policing model for Kent by streamlining and rationalising support services and re-aligning some of our specialist policing functions to continue to deliver a first-class service.

"Already, we have made significant savings by running joint departments in our collaboration with Essex Police and this will continue to be part of the solution for a more efficient force for the future."

Ann Barnes, chairman of the Kent Police Authority, said: "It's early days for our new policing model but the authority is very happy indeed to endorse the new set-up.

"I'm very excited by the future and I am confident this can only further enhance our policing service in Kent."

Also at the meeting a freeze on police countil tax was announced.

A budget of £288million was agreed, of which just over two-thirds is government-funded, with the rest coming from the council taxpayer.