POLICE officers believe budget cuts will hamstring policing and could lead to a rise in crime.

The Police Federation surveyed West Mercia Police officers and found the vast majority were deeply unhappy about the effect of budget cuts and proposed reforms.

In the survey: l 98 per cent said morale had dropped amid the fallout from the budget cuts; l 91 per cent said there would be a decline in service delivery; l 84 per cent said crime levels would be affected; l 83 per cent said their workload would increase. The survey was carried out after Government imposed 20 per cent spending cuts, slashing the force’s budget by £24 million in the next four years.

Rank and file officers also showed concern over proposed public sector pensions changes announced by Lord Hutton and the Winsor review into police officers’ pay and conditions.

The federation says that the Winsor proposals would leave some officers almost £4,000 worse off a year.

West Mercia Police Federation board chairman Andy White said: “Police officers feel they are being hit from all sides by this Government which, in addition to attacking their terms and conditions, is imposing cuts which will undoubtedly lead to increased levels of crime and a poorer service. Cuts of this magnitude are criminal.

“We are not opposed to change, but if this Government truly believes in change for the better they should establish a Royal Commission on policing.

“The public should make clear to politicians these cuts should be urgently reconsidered.”

West Mercia Assistant Chief Constable Simon Edens said all police forces were “facing huge challenges” and police officers and staff recognised delivering budget reductions would be “difficult”.

He said “significant changes” had already been made and proposed to reduce costs.

Sheila Blagg, chairman of the police authority, said: “The feelings of officers we talk to is that the force is better off than many others nationally.”