TORFAEN'S AM has written to Gwent Police's top officer expressing her "dismay" over plans which could see frontline officers moved into backroom jobs at the expense of colleagues' jobs.

Lynne Neagle has written to Chief Constable Carmel Napier following the story in the Argus that 15 of the 30 Custody Detention Officers (CDOs) based in Newport and Ystrad Mynach face redundancy.

Under plans, the force will train up frontline officers to replace them.

Her letter reads: "I was dismayed and frankly deeply disappointed to read the story about Gwent Police’s plans to replace a number of specialist Custody Detention Officers (CDOs) with front line police officers.

Ms Neagle said she has seen an escalation in complaints about anti-social behaviour in recent months and "would be deeply concerned to see front line police officers pulled off the beat to fill the gap left by making Custody Detention Officers redundant.

"I find this latest development particularly worrying in light of the pledge you made to protect frontline policing when you were first appointed to the role of Chief Constable."

Her letter goes on to say she found it "very frustrating" to find out about the development in the Argus, saying Ms Napier had previously committed to keeping politicians in Gwent informed following "the storm that followed your decision to close the front desk at a number of police stations across Gwent and it is disappointing that there has been no prior communication or consultation in the case of these changes."

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Prince said the plans would allow the force to have more officers on duty in custody units when the demand is high and more officers on the street at other times.

He added: "While the Custody Detention Officers are being kept informed of the plans and they are being given all the guidance and support they need on achieving another position within the force, we are sorry that these plans mean uncertainty for some colleagues."