GWENT Police is facing cuts of more than £24 million over the next four years.

Following the Westminster government's comprehensive spending review, which slashed public spending across the board, Gwent Police has to tighten its belt significantly as its settlement drops.

At this week's Gwent Police Authority meeting, members were told that while the official figure is £22 million, the force has to allow ten percent cushion for any alterations in costs so in reality the figure is £24.6 million.

While no cuts in officers numbers were mentioned, chairman of Gwent Police Federation, Jeff Mapps, warns any cuts in staff will have a knock-on effect to policing.

He added: "Police officers should be protected, we can only hope it will have negligible affect on police officers. If we lose significant numbers, it will inevitably have an effect on crime. If you lose officers, there's more opportunities for individuals to commit crime without officers to detect them."

The force is set to announce its budget plans on February 9, outlining how it will trim £3 million in 2011/12 which follows anticipated savings of £7.6 million made in 2010/11.

The budget for 2010/11 was £121.616 million.

As reported previously in the Argus, outgoing Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said officer numbers would not be cut during this financial year.

The Argus understands incoming chief constable Carmel Napier, who takes over the reins on April 1, would like to continue this ethos.

Gwent Police Authority treasurer, Neil Philips, said the 2011/12 would be set at a meeting on February 18 and they did not envisage any problems in balancing the budget.

He said restructuring over the past three years had allowed the force to make efficiency savings and putting it in a good position for this year's budget.

New HQ could save £6m

Gwent Police already shares a legal service with its South Wales counterparts and premises sharing with councils and other authorities are areas being looked into to ease running costs for all concerned. IT services could also be split between police and local authorities.

Pay reviews will be made across the force and the police could look at using its reserves to fund capital projects.

One money-saving scheme also being considered is relocating to a new headquarters.

The 30-year-old site in Croesyceiliog was described as "more suitable for an Ashes to Ashes series than its current use" by Newport Council leader Matthew Evans, who supported the idea of moving instead of trying to bring the current building up to scratch.

Refurbishing the building would cost around £26.3 million over the next 20 years, whereas plans to move to a new Head Office would cost in the region of £20.2 million, saving in excess of £6 million.