A plan to change the structure of Kent Police and pair Swale with Canterbury has been put on hold.

The reorganisation was to take place across the county as a result of anticipated cuts to funding from the government.

But when Chancellor George Osborne announced the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review at the end of last month, it unexpectedly included no budget cuts for police.

Swale district commander Chief Inspector Tony Henley, addressing last week’s Sittingbourne Local Engagement Forum, said: “I don’t think any chief constable saw that coming.

“The restructure we were due to commence on February 2 which would see us combining with Canterbury was only ever done because we felt we would have to find savings. It wasn’t a choice we really wanted.”

Swale policing is linked to Maidstone and the two boroughs share resources and manpower.

The new structure would have seen a reduction in the number of chief inspectors overseeing each area, with one for each pair of districts, rather than one for every district.

Ch Insp Henley said: “It was not thought it would have impacted on the number of police officers and PCSOs in each area, although there were plans to reduce the number of people in middle management.”

The U-turn has had an impact on staff, said Mr Henley: “It has caused difficulties for some individuals. Business cases were around people being made redundant and it’s all been put on hold.

“It’s the right thing to do. Internally, it causes some angst but we suck it up and get on with it.”

Mr Henley, who was due to hand over to a new chief inspector in February, is now to stay in his role until he retires in April.

"It’s the right thing to do. Internally, it causes some angst but we suck it up and get on with it" - Chief Inspector Tony Henley

He warned there were still a lot of “unknowns” regarding police funding, including the level of council tax precept set by Kent police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes, which could increase by up to £5 per household a year.

But how that money was spent would change, he said, with more emphasis on enhancing the force’s armed police in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris, and tackling issues such as child exploitation and cyber crime.