Force has no plans to cut back on police numbers in Shropshire

Mr Longmore also revealed the force is actively recruiting for new officers to sustain current numbers.

He was responding to comments made by the Police Federation, which has warned cuts to the policing budget are putting people at risk and leaving communities vulnerable.

Mr Longmore thinks the federation is right to highlight its concerns if policing continues to see major cutbacks from government in the future.

But he is confident that people covered by West Mercia Police, including Shropshire, are currently getting a good policing service.

Mr Longmore said: "It's clear to me that fundamentally we share a lot of common goals and we both want what is best for the public, but I do have to disagree with some of the claims they make.

"I think the federation is right to highlight that there are potential issues we could face if policing continues to see major cutbacks from government in the future, but for the moment that is all hypothetical.

"In terms of the 'here and now', I am confident that the people of West Mercia get a good policing service, and they are not 'at risk' as the federation claims.

"It's plain to see that policing in West Mercia has been through some major upheaval in recent years.

"Almost two-thirds of our annual budget still comes directly from the government grant, and that has been consistently reduced year-on-year recently.

"The need to make savings has undoubtedly been government led, but it doesn't necessarily mean service levels have been compromised, indeed we have found some innovative ways of sustaining service levels on a much tighter budget."

Mr Longmore added: "As things stand now, we won't be reducing the number of officers any further. We are actively recruiting for new officers to sustain our current numbers, and there are actually more officers on the streets now in West Mercia than there were 12 months ago."

The West Mercia Police Federation has launched a five-week campaign called #CutsHaveConsequences as it claims plans for £36.9 million in budget cuts could lead to the end of the force.

Russell Yeomans, chairman elect of the federation, said: "The thin blue line is getting thinner. It is a very alarming trend. The public are being put at risk and it is only going to get worse.

"At a time when we are under greater threat of online crime and terror attacks, we have fewer officers available when we need them the most."