POLICE chief Jeff Farrar has pledged to protect frontline services after it emerged that 74 Gwent Police officers planned to take voluntary redundancy under a Home Office exit scheme.

The officers intend to leave Gwent Police under the scheme which could help to save the force money.

Chief constable Farrar said new officers would be recruited, adding redundancies would be staggered to mitigate the potential risk to operational policing.

However, police and crime commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said it was “inevitable” the number of officers would fall overall.

Mr Farrar said: “Under new national police regulations a Voluntary Exit Scheme for police officers has been introduced by the Home Office.

“A number of police forces have already launched voluntary exit schemes, which allows those who want to leave the Police Service earlier than their expected pensionable service to do so, it is not forced redundancy.

“At this time, 74 officers have expressed an interest in leaving the force under the scheme, for a range of personal and professional reasons.

“However, any release will be staggered to ensure the potential risk to operational policing is fully considered.

“This scheme will provide me some flexibility and an opportunity to open up recruitment here in Gwent.

“I am determined, wherever possible, to protect frontline officers posts, but I also need to ensure that we are in the best possible position to deal with the budgetary challenges, which like many other public services is extremely challenging.”

ONS figures show there were 1,377 officers within Gwent Police in 2013.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman stressed that a third of those applying for the exit scheme were currently on light duties or absent from reasons including long-term sickness.

The Home Office said yesterday it was up to police and crime commissioners and chief officers to decide both how to use the resources available to them, and whether the use of voluntary exit is appropriate for their force.

Ian Johnston said: “Gwent Police and the office of the police and crime commissioner for Gwent are continuously planning ahead to meet the demands of substantial financial challenges.

“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary recently recognised the good progress of Gwent in demonstrating that we are well on track to secure the necessary savings to balance the books.

“The reality is that we have to be more flexible and agile to meet these demands and it is inevitable that numbers will need to reduce.

“Although there will be an overall reduction in officer numbers in Gwent, the comprehensive restructure of the force operating model has also made it possible for us to recruit new frontline officers to replace those who have left.”