Norfolk Police Authority is facing the prospect of a £3.6 million shortfall for next year as the Government seeks to change the ways it makes its calculations for current grant allocations.

Under the existing system the authority has the protection of knowing that, at worst, it would not lose funding and is guaranteed a minimum increase, but if the alterations go-ahead, such security may be lost.

Authority chairman Mr Stephen Bett, of Thornham, who is also the Norfolk County Council member for north coast, said: "It is very difficult to say what the impact will be. If this money disappears, it will have a major effect on the way the county is policed.

"Obviously we will have to look at what we can do. We will look to keep the Safer Neighbourhoods at all costs, but there will be casualties.
"We are fighting very hard against this."

The authority will meet on Thursday to discuss the different options the Government is considering for its grant distribution formula in 2008/09.

A report to members states: "Current grant levels are based upon a level of support that has remained stable for some years and it is imperative that this continues."

News of the possible cutback comes after the authority saw funding for the force cut by nearly £1 million in November last year.

It was hoped that 280 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) would be recruited across the county as part of Home Office plans to fill 24,000 posts in the UK.

But after the Government announced only 16,000 posts would be funded nationally, Norfolk Police Authority was left with a £968,000 shortfall for its target figure for new officers.

And in February Norfolk Police revealed a rise of more than five per cent in its portion of the council tax was needed to prevent services from being badly affected.

The authority also announced it planned to use £3 million from reserves over the next three years to keep the budget on track.