Devon and Cornwall Police plans to cut 71 crime investigators as it slashes 500 non-uniformed civilian support posts, it has emerged.

The force has launched a consultation into the proposed job losses which could see some staff made redundant as early as June this year.

The 500 civilian job losses are in addition to the 700 sworn officers set to lose their jobs after the budget was cut by £47m over four years.

Chief Constable Stephen Otter said he had been "looking at every part of the business" including the "possibility" of having less crime investigators but "managing them in a different way".

"We have to go through a process that means we have to look at every single option – 71 people have been notified," he told the Western Morning News yesterday.

"The truth is we have to design something with 1,200 fewer people and that is a lot but we have to be radical in our re-design and bold in providing the service. Unfortunately and sadly it comes with all sorts of sad consequences."

The investigators take on routine tasks during cases to free detectives to deal with more serious work and allow officers to work the beat.

They organise inquiries, take statements and interview witnesses, working mostly on crimes such as theft, burglary and assault, but can deal with the most serious crimes

Kevin Norman, regional organiser of the GMB union, described the plan as "disastrous" and said he was "flabbergasted" that Mr Otter had agreed to such cuts.

He said: "They have extraordinary skills that they bring to the job. Most of them are ex-police officers."

Nigel Rabbitts, regional chairman of the Police Federation, said he had had "reservations" about the introduction of these civilian staff but said they had supported sworn officers and would be "a loss".

"The idea of these posts was to carry some of the load of interviewing, investigating lower level crime but unfortunately it has become an experiment which they cannot afford.

"The question is who is going to carry on with their work with the dwindling numbers."

Wendy Bonfield, a crime investigator based in Newquay, said they were told it was a "firm proposal".

She told the BBC: "We've been told that we're to be given our redundancies in the middle of June.

"We had been given two weeks to come up with proposals to try and save our jobs."

The force said it was "undertaking a review of all posts and functions as it looks to make these financial savings while maintaining a high-level police service".

It said a formal 90-day consultation process regarding some staff posts began in March.

It added: "We recognise the valuable and high-level work all our staff carry out and this proposal has not been put forward without considerable thought."

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