Thinning out thin blue line

Up to 25,000 police officers could be axed - about one in six in England and Wales - and replaced by cheaper civilian patrollers, under secret plans drawn up by chief constables.

The leader of rank and file officers yesterday warned that if the cut-backs go ahead then the country would be left with a "paramilitary" police force only able to respond to emergencies and confrontations.

Home Secretary John Reid confirmed that the Association of Chief Police Officers had compiled a "model" for 25,000 cuts, but that it was a "worst-case scenario".

The plan would involve losing about a fifth of the current 141,000 officers in England and Wales through retirement and resignations over the next five years.

They would be replaced by police community support officers, who received three weeks' training, and have limited powers to patrol and deal with anti-social behaviour and low-level crime.

Police chiefs yesterday denied the association would oversee such a huge cut in numbers, but said all options were being considered.

- INDEPENDENT