MORE police officers face the axe, after it was revealed Essex Police has only made £16million savings of the £42million needed.

Last year it was revealed 388 officers, 100 PCSOs and 600 civilian staff – just under 20 per cent of the workforce – would be cut. A total of 670 have already left.

Nine police stations and nine other buildings – 20 per cent of its stock – have been closed and are being sold and the mounted unit will be axed.

The force has been restructured, for example combining traffic and response teams.

The cuts so far add up to about £16million. This means the force has to find another £26million savings, by 2015.

Salaries account for about 85 per cent of the force’s £250million cost, so more frontline officers could be axed.

Mick Thwaites, a former district commander for Essex Police , said: “I am incredibly concerned because these are significant cuts. The jobs we have already lost are having a significant impact. The latest figures show crime is rising and suggesting we can keep delivering more for less is rubbish.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said they will look at every possible way to make savings, without cutting officer and police staff posts.

He said: “However, regrettably it could become necessary to reduce the number of people we employ.

“We have identified a further £16million savings, but cannot give further details about these plans until all the proposals are in place and relevant staff are consulted.

“There will regrettably be further reductions in posts, but it would be wrong to speculate on exact numbers, as this depends on how much money we can continue to save through other means.”

As of March this year, Essex Police employs 3,494 police officers, 434 PCSOs and 1,950 civilian staff.