Authority to cut 300 police posts in Suffolk

Plans to cut 300 Suffolk Police posts have been backed by the police authority.

As part of the government's spending review, the Suffolk Constabulary has to save £13.5m over four years.

The meeting of the authority backed the cutting of 300 officers and staff - including police community support officers and civilian workers.

It also agreed the use of Regulation A19 which allows the forceable retirement of officers after 30 years.

Police authorities across the country have been looking at using A19 as serving officers cannot be made redundant.

The police authority said the some of the posts would be lost by not replacing officers who leave the force.