"SECRET" government cuts could leave GMP short by another £75 million, according to Bolton's police and crime commissioner Complex changes to the police funding formula look set to leave the force facing further cuts, on top of £275 million of reductions already imposed or planned.

Tony Lloyd says it is almost impossible to predict what impact the latest changes will have on Greater Manchester — because the government has not released the relevant information.

He and chief constable Sir Peter Fahy are going to write to Home Secretary Theresa May to ask for clarification.

The new cuts, of between £53 and £75 million, would constitute the salaries of between 1,060 and 1,560 officers, according to Mr Lloyd.

The police service is funded through a combination of government grants and money raised through council tax.

Economic deprivation and other factors leave Greater Manchester more reliant on central government funding, meaning the changes, to a system based on relative need based on the environment and population, might disproportionately affect this region.

Mr Lloyd said: “By keeping the details of this change to the funding formula secret, you have to wonder what the Home Secretary has got to hide.

"It’s time for her and the government to come clean.

"As things stand, we simply can’t make plans for the future which creates additional uncertainty for the people of Greater Manchester. It’s unacceptable.”

Police in Bolton have already endured sizeable budget cuts since 2010 In that period, GMP has lost 3,000 officers — the equivalent of the Bolton division four times over — which equates to £185 million.

In April, two of Bolton's three neighbourhood policing teams merged, although chiefs insisted that it was not a cost-cutting measure.

But in February last year, the chief superintendent post held by Bolton's most senior police officer was axed, with the job occupied by Ch Supt Shaun Donnellan now shared with Wigan.

In June, Ch Supt Donnellan told The Bolton News that the days of having "cops on street corners" were gone after the force axed a Friday night patrol in the town centre.

The Home Office is currently consulting on the planned changes to funding, but the documents do not explain how each area of the country will be affected.

Home Office officials have refused to provide the commissioner with examples of what the changes will mean in practice – and will not give these details until October, one month after the consultation period ends.

Mike Penning, minister for policing, crime, criminal justice and victims, said: "If we want policing in this country to be the best it can be, then we must reform further, and that includes putting police funding on a long-term, sustainable footing.

"The current model for allocating police funding, is complex, opaque and out of date. That is why we have announced plans to reform the allocation of central Government funding to police forces in England and Wales, ensuring it is fair, robust and transparent.”

The consultation document is available from www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-police-funding-arrangements-in-england-and-wales.