THE number of front line police officers in Bolton has fallen by 15.5 per cent over the last two years.

It is as part of the spending cuts as Greater Manchester Police must shed about 3,000 jobs to make the £134 million savings by 2015.

The number of officers in Bolton has reduced from 527 in January 2010 to 445 in January 2012.

Dep Ch Con Ian Hopkins, said: “We have made no secret of the savings we have been required to make, which has ultimately meant a reduction in the number of police officers and staff.

“As a force, we remain determined to maintain the kind of service the public of Greater Manchester deserves and has come to expect and have changed the way we work in order to meet these needs, making best use of police officers, staff and resources.

“Of our 7,592 police officers, 6,074 are engaged in delivering frontline policing to the people of Greater Manchester, with further support from more than 1,500 PCSOs and Special Constables.

“Frontline officers require support to deliver effective policing and we are working very hard to make that non-frontline support as efficient as possible, and have seen an 18 per cent reduction in the number of officers filling these roles.