Cornwall and Devon are to lose more police officers due to government cuts.

Tony Hogg, the the police and crime commissioner, says that ninety police officer jobs will be lost as the force needs to save £51m by 2015, and a possible further £27m by 2017-18.

The number of officers would fall from 3,100 to 3,010 over the next four years. The force has already lost 400 police officers.

Mr Hogg said: "We clearly face some tough financial pressures over the coming years but I have pledged to maintain police officer numbers despite this.

"The number of police officers is a touchstone issue and any cuts will always cause controversy and concern.

"Ask people what they want from policing - as I often do - and the most common reply is the familiar call for more "bobbies on the beat".

"This latest reduction in officer numbers will only add to worries about the visibility of policing and the service the force will be able to provide.

"Our medium-term financial strategy, which covers the next four years, ensures that we will still have more than 3,000 officers in 2017-18.

"The former police authority was planning to cut the number of officers to 2,810 and I have taken active steps to stop the decline to that level."

Concerns have been raised by the police federation that the cuts are not sustainable.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Police reform is working and independent measures show crime levels have fallen.

"Getting the economy back on track has meant a challenging funding settlement for the police, but forces like Devon and Cornwall have shown an ability to make savings while still cutting crime."