NORTHUMBRIA Police’s Chief Constable has admitted the force has had to cut more than 1,000 officers since 2010 due to “significant budget reductions”.

Chief Constable Winton Keenen revealed the huge drop in officer numbers in an open letter released last week, discussing the budget cuts the force has had to cope with.

Because of cuts in funding Northumbria Police receives from the government, Mr Keenen said savings of more than £142m had been made since 2010/11.

The letter reads: “The stark reality is there have been huge cuts in the amount of money we receive from Government, a reduction of 30 per cent in real terms since 2010-11, with the overall financial impact to Northumbria being the worst felt by any force in the country.”

Mr Keenen said the force had looked to mitigate the effect of the cuts by making savings and utilising financial reserves, but he said Northumbria Police’s financial reserves are the lowest they have ever been.

Despite attempting to lessen the impact on frontline policing services, it was revealed in the letter that officer numbers have dropped by 1,038 since 2010.

And while the letter outlined how Northumbria Police has had to sell its land, including its former Ponteland headquarters to “keep our heads above water,” it added this was a “one-off measure which is all-too quickly exhausted”.

Mr Keenen finished the letter by reassuring people that the force would continue to look for new ways to adapt, adding: “You can be assured of my personal commitment to providing you with the very best policing service you expect and deserve, as well as that unwavering and proven dedication of your local officers and staff.”