AVON & Somerset Constabulary have welcomed news that funding will not be cut, as had been expected in the Autumn Statement.

The announcement from Chancellor George Osborne not to cut police funding has come as a surprise, with the force anticipating having to make changes to accommodate the decrease in funding.

A spokesman from Avon & Somerset said: “The recognition by the government of the vital role the police service plays in protecting communities reflects the reality on the ground every day in Avon and Somerset.

“The planning we have been undertaking in anticipation of substantial cuts and the discussion these have generated may have been unsettling for the public, officers and staff but it was necessary to be as prepared as possible and ensure that our dialogue was candid and reflected the difficult options we may be faced with.

“We have an obligation to ensure that we deliver the most effective and efficient policing possible within the budget provided to us and this will remain our priority.

“The focus in the coming weeks and months will be to ensure programmes are in place to meet these challenges and to support the officers and staff in delivering the best possible policing to the people of Avon and Somerset. “