New £100m police cuts on the way - with hundreds of officer posts to face axe and front desks to go

Yearly cuts of £25m after the General Election have been predicted and bosses at the West Midlands force are working with consultancy firm Accenture UK on radical plans to change the way it works.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson told the Express & Star it was 'inevitable' jobs and buildings would be axed.

He said police officers would not be made redundant but that they would not be replaced when they leave.

The force has already cut £126m over the last five years and seen thousands of job losses. "These are some of the biggest cuts to any police force in the country," said Mr Jamieson.

"The people of the West Midlands are being hit unfairly under the funding formula used. This means that whilst as an area we are at the centre of some of the biggest problems like child sex exploitation and radicalisation, we are still the hit hardest.

"We are recruiting 450 new officers at the moment. They will replenish a number of those who are currently leaving in the coming years but there will not be a net increase overall," he said.

He said town centre police stations would stay but low visits to inquiry posts meant they would have to close.

He also revealed there were 'active' discussions about sharing buildings used by the public sector.

He said: "There is no question that the estates and front desks are going to be affected."

Accenture UK hopes to reveal the outcome of its root and branch review of the force in the new year. It is expected to focus on how better use of technology can free up police time and bring down costs.

Mr Jamieson said: "Police on the ground will have better technology which will mean they do not have to go back to the station, they will be able to do virtually everything at the scene. I hope it will be as good a service but less expensive."

Chief Constable Chris Sims added: "We will probably be looking at another £100m of savings over the next four years."