POLICE chiefs have defended a recruitment freeze which could mean more than 100 fewer officers in Greater Manchester by next spring.

The cutbacks, aimed at saving money, will mean that retiring police officers will not be replaced.

GMP's 3,000 civilian support staff also fear job losses and the cutbacks have been bitterly condemned by their trade union, Unison.

Union bosses claim the move will mean 224 support staff could lose their jobs and a further 250 will face wage cuts.

Branch secretary Carol Lyle, herself a police civilian worker, said: "The staff are outraged at the timing of this announcement, which is prior to the police authority even agreeing to the proposals or setting next year's budget. "And to add insult to injury, since announcing the cuts both the Chief Constable and the Chair of the Police Authority Cllr Steven Murphy, have gone to the USA."

But in a statement, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the freeze on recruiting has only been planned until the end of the financial year to enable them to "reassess the financial position".

He said that by the end of next March it is anticipated that GMP may have 105 fewer officers although the figure may be less.

He said: "Should the recruiting freeze continue into next year we estimate that our net loss of officers may be up to 290 officers."

The spokesman added: "These figures are very provisional at this stage but should these shortfalls appear there would be some shifting around of resources to ensure that more officers are being used for operational day-to-day policing."

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