South Yorkshire Police: Force expects to lose 400 officers in four years

This figure is expected to rise beyond 400 over the next four years as experienced officers retire and are not replaced.

A further 680 support staff are also expected to leave the force over the same time period, as the force expects savings of some £40m in total.

Closed circuit TV operators, desk clerks and staff working to combat domestic violence are among the employees whose jobs are under threat.

Draft proposals include cutting the force’s Major Incident Team by two officers and six staff, resulting in “a reduced capacity for investigation of major crime”, and submitting fewer exhibits from crime scenes for forensic analysis.

A total of 16 officers and 45 staff are poised to leave the Sheffield policing district, where nine inquiry desks would be reduced to three. Only one desk would be open on Bank Holidays.

In Rotherham, 14 officers and 42 staff are under threat. There are plans to close the Rawmarsh and Maltby inquiry desks, and to leave closed circuit TV cameras unmanned at times.

CCTV coverage in Barnsley and Doncaster is also likely to be affected by the cuts. Barnsley’s policing strength is due to be reduced by 14 officers and 26 staff, while Doncaster is expected to lose 11 officers and 35 staff, including employees in the domestic violence team.

The force also intends to sell off various disused buildings.

Eight police boxes around Sheffield have been put on the market, all single-storey brick or stone buildings. Originally used for officers to contact headquarters, they have become increasingly surplus to requirements since officers began carrying police radios.

David Livingstone, South Yorkshire Police’s head of facilities management, said: “The advent of mobile phones and BlackBerrys mean officers no longer require police boxes for reporting when they’re out on the beat.

“This has prompted us to put these properties on the market so they can be put to alternative good use.”

Section houses, formerly used as accommodation for unmarried police officers, will also be sold off by the force.