POLICE cash cutbacks could mean the loss of more than 50 frontline officers in Gloucestershire as the government tightens its belt.

The county could lose up to 60 police officers and a possible 28 police community support officers (PCSOs) as well as up to 50 police staff posts as the government grant, which makes up two third's of the authority's budget, has increased below the level of inflation.

The cutbacks have also led to the deferral of PCSO recruitment due in March.

Gloucestershire Police Authority is currently considering council tax increases to fill the gap and have three options: council tax increases of £1 a month, 4.99 percent a year or 2.99 percent a year.

All three will require the constabulary to lose in the region of 50 police staff posts with the last two options requiring the additional loss of up to 28 PCSOs and 60 police officer posts.

A police statement said the saving could also be made by "a rationalisation of the numbers in the higher rank".

A force spokesman said: "The constabulary has begun to review its recruitment requirements so that the loss of posts can be found mainly through normal turnover to minimise the need for redundancies."

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said Gloucestershire is being short-changed by the government.

"We have had very poor funding and if we have a below inflation settlement, either the balance is to be met by the precept or police have to make economies," he said.

Part of the problem, according to Mr Clifton-Brown, is the police funding formula is not applied fairly to Gloucestershire, which is part urban and part rural.

He explained: "Gloucestershire is the sixth lowest funded police authority in the country."

Cotswold county councillor Roger Brown blamed the police authority for failing to reduce its staff over the last two years to cut costs.

But Vera Clouston, an independent member of the police authority, said £1.6million savings had been achieved by the loss of 52 posts.

She said: "The police authority is very conscious of its responsibility in spending public money. Discussions on the budget for 2009/10 are currently under way, and the constabulary will again be set challenging targets for savings."