More than 50 new bobbies on the beat are to be recruited by Cheshire Constabulary despite the force facing the prospect of having to make a further £30m worth of savings over the next four years.

But Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner John Dwyer has admitted he cannot rule out those numbers being cut back if further budget cuts are imposed on him in the near future.

Mr Dwyer and chief constable Simon Byrne were in defiant mood at a press briefing held at the Winsford police HQ on Wednesday (July 1) when they both made a firm commitment to increasing police presence throughout the county.

Mr Dwyer insisted the announcement was ‘good news’ for Cheshire and the measures were being implemented as a direct result of listening to what the public want.

"Good news"

That good news included the fact crime has fallen by 40% in Cheshire in the past decade and last year saw the lowest rate of crime in the county for 25 years.

He said: “The bottom line is that here in Cheshire we are bucking the national trend. There are tales of woe elsewhere in the country but in Cheshire there is no tale of woe.

“The demand from the public is they want to see more officers on the beat and more local policing. Local policing is the biggest issue and that is what I am about.”

New measures

Following an extensive ‘root and branch’ review of a force that has already had to make £37m worth of savings since 2010, Mr Dwyer and Mr Byrne announced the following developments which will start to be introduced gradually from Monday (July 6):

53 new officers to be recruited in addition to replacing those who have retired, adding up to a further 130 police officers on the beat

Maintaining the current levels of PCSOs to support front line officers

An increase in the numbers of special constables

The introduction of eight local policing units covering Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Runcorn, Crewe, Widnes, Ellesmere Port and Warrington each headed by a chief inspector

Investment in technology to support frontline crime fighting and online threats

A task force of 87 officers to deal with serious crime issues and events such as Chester Races.

Where money has been saved

Savings have been made in what are described as ‘non-pay’ areas to do with running contract work and a reduction in the numbers of managers throughout the force.

However, Mr Dwyer admitted the Chancellor of the Exchequer could insist on even greater funding cuts in future budgets which may affect his bid to increase the numbers of officers on the street.

“But I am determined to make sure we meet the demands of the public as best we can.”