Government proposals to boost the police service and the number of Bobbies on the Beat amount to little more than “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, Kent Police Federation has said.

The Home Secretary has pledged to put another 13,000 officers on the beat over the course of this Parliament, including a named, contactable police officer in every community, but chiefs are warning that they will have to make cuts in forces to meet the police funding shortfall.

Neil Mennie, Kent Police Federation Chair, said: “The promise of more officers is always welcome but hardly a benefit if forces cannot balance the books and receive the required funding. Elements of reverse civilianisation are already creeping in and once again we have warranted officers doing the roles that staff colleagues have traditionally undertaken. How can policing move forwards and backwards all at the same time?

“Those of us longer in service will note the rehash of a previous attempt to have a named contactable officer on every beat and how that panned out. It was usually the case that due to demand it became something of a paper exercise and if it is going to work we need those extra officers.”

Staff support was a huge help in Kent, with the introduction of PCSOs more than 20 years ago taking the pressure off hard pressed constables, but they were cut in Kent in 2022.

“A major financial review may prove useful but essentially the risk of trying to do more with less is ever present. There are some positive noises coming from government but it is clear funding needs to be addressed sooner rather than later and the continuance of robbing Peter to pay Paul”, Neil added.