There will be more victims of crime and fewer offenders brought to justice because of funding cuts, it has been claimed.

West Yorkshire Police yesterday confirmed the Force would probably have about 500 fewer police officers in four years’ time, and 300 civilian staff would face compulsory redundancy.

Police chiefs and West Yorkshire Police Authority insist that front line policing will be protected, though back-up services will be cut.

But Andrew Tempest-Mitchell, vice-chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said any funding cuts were likely to have a direct bearing on services provided to the public.

Mr Tempest-Mitchell said: “West Yorkshire Police is going to have to work very, very hard to secure front line policing.

“It may well mean crime will be affected and there will be more victims of crime as a result of the funding cuts, and there is every chance that offenders will not be brought to justice.

“We believe the public has a right to be concerned, and has a right to know that West Yorkshire Police is doing everything it possibly can to protect the services the public expects. We are sure the Force is working extremely hard to protect those services.

“The Government says it’s not all about the numbers you have got, but how they are deployed. But there is only so far you can go with reducing the numbers of officers and police staff.”

The West Yorkshire Force has to slash £90 million from its £450 million budget over the next four years, due to Government cutbacks.

Yesterday, a force spokesman said: “We have already started reducing headcount and have not recruited police officers or staff since the summer of 2010. That will mean about 800-900 natural leavers in that time will not be replaced. We will be looking at about 300 enforced redundancies of police staff and by the end of the four year savings window we will probably be looking at about 500 fewer police officers than we had at the start of 2010 and about 1,000 fewer police staff.”

The spokesman said they would be looking at about 300 enforced redundancies of police staff, with 1,000 fewer staff in four years’ time, and 500 fewer police officers.

The spokesman said: “The commitment remains focused on providing local policing services, through both neighbourhood policing teams and our response officers.”

Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison has said reductions in police officers would be felt more in supporting roles in order to protect front line policing.

Yesterday, the chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “We are going to try to protect the front line as much as we can. Neighbourhood Policing is a priority, and trying to retain Police Community Support Officers is part of that.”

But he added: “Services that sit behind that will look radically different.”

He said the Force and the Authority were looking at significant savings behind the scenes in areas such as corporate services, criminal justice, scientific support and fleet vehicles.

Coun Burns-Williamson said: “Hopefully, people won’t notice a visible difference on a day-to-day basis. But there is no doubt that those working in front line positions will be required to do more. The current support they get won’t be at the same level because there will be fewer people.”

Bradford South’s Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, told the Telegraph & Argus last month that PCSOs were a vital part of Neighbourhood Policing and everything must be done to maintain the blue line.

And she pledged that essential services, such as providing support to vulnerable victims and children, would not be affected by budget restraints.

West Yorkshire Police has almost 10,500 staff. The figure includes 5,758 officers, 3,530 civilian staff, 763 PCSOs, and 421 Special Constables.