WEST Essex’s top police officer faced questions over his force’s biggest shake-up in recent years at a council meeting last night (Tuesday).

Chief Superintendent Simon Williams spoke about the changes, which include slashing police station opening hours, cutting the overall number of officers and restructuring the force’s management.

The meeting’s’ chairman, Lower Nazeing councillor Richard Bassett, asked how police could insure more officers would be on the streets under the new plans when the overall number is due to drop by 400.

“Where are the extra officers coming from?” he said.

Chief Supt Williams said a large proportion of the cut in police numbers would come from response officers, who are the first on the scene of a crime.

“In the future, they won’t have to carry a case load, take as many statements or process the people arrested,” he said. “There doesn’t need to be as many of them.”

Several councillors representing villages asked if the ‘borderless patrols’ outlined in the shake-up would lead to the district losing officers to busier areas.

Roydon councillor Mary Sartin said: “There’s been a perception over these school holidays that that there’s been a lack of police coverage, so can you give an assurance that will be increased?”

Chief Supt Williams said: “We have maintained our patrols in the rural areas.

“There will be more dedicated officers around the neighbourhood teams, which have responsibility for rural areas.”

Cuts in the hours that police stations are open to the public, including the change in Loughton’s front desk from a 24 hour service to one running from midday to 6pm Monday to Saturday were also brought up.

Loughton councillor Stephen Murray said: “Not to have our police station open 24 hours is of some concern.”

But Chief Supt Williams said police would still be based at the High Road station round the clock, with the public able to reach them via an intercom.

A Theydon Bois resident at the meeting, who refused to give her name, said afterwards that she was still worried about the changes.

“They say there’s a dedicated neighbourhood policeman, but ours is being stretched to a wider area, including North Weald,” she said. “The numbers of police officers don’t add up.”

Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Twitter