The Chief Constable of Staffordshire says no police stations will close under the force’s restructuring in response to major financial challenges.

Staffordshire Police face a reduction of £4 million in funding for 2010-2011 and expect further funding cuts in the wake of the General Election.

Under the new Communities First programme the existing four force divisions will be reduced – and a number of options are being considered

Mr Mike Cunningham, who took up the post six months ago, said that his priority was to maintain frontline services and he hoped to avoid any reductions in officer numbers on the beat.

The bulk of savings are expected to be made in administration and back office structures. One area the force is looking at is moving some officers to work out of council offices across the county, but it will not mean police stations shutting.

Mr Cunningham said he had “an absolute commitment to neighbourhood policing” and that would be the foundation stone of the new force structure. He is promising that each neighbourhood officer will stay in post for at least two years to counter criticism of officers moving too quickly and that officers would spend 85 per cent of their time on neighbourhood duties.

He said the changes were needed to show that public money was being used effectively and frontline services were being protected. The announcement comes as figures show a crime reduction in the county.

In the period from April last year to the end of last month, there had been a 12 per cent reduction in burglary – down 454, a 28 per cent reduction in theft from vehicles – down 600, and a 29 per cent cut in vehicle thefts – 640 less. Some jobs will go through natural wastage and it was hoped there would be no compulsory redundancies.

The force is also to collaborate with neighbouring forces, including the West Midlands, to help maintain policing levels.

Mr Cunningham stressed there were no plans to revive merger proposals between Midlands forces – but he admitted they may share administration costs. The full restructuring will take effect from April 2011, but some measures be introduced earlier.