MORE frontline officers could return to the street if Suffolk and Norfolk police forces decide to share services and resources it has been claimed.Jim Keeble, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said he was supportive of the proposals, which will see the forces become “preferred partners”.

MORE frontline officers could return to the street if Suffolk and Norfolk police forces decide to share services and resources it has been claimed.

Jim Keeble, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said he was supportive of the proposals, which will see the forces become “preferred partners”.

He said the move was a natural progression and made sense - especially at a time when officers were being asked to do more and more but on less and less money.

Mr Keeble said: “We don't see it costing jobs or anything like that.It's probably quite a natural progression to be honest.

“It mirrors in a lot of ways what is already going on in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The forces in Essex and Kent are also looking at collaboration on border crime so there's lots of this going on.

“It's really about forces trying to work out how they can perform all the tasks of modern policing on a budget that's not keeping up with inflation.”

Protective Services, the command which includes major investigations, intelligence, vulnerable people and forensic services, is the first area of work to be scrutinised.

The forces have decided to develop a single joint protective services command which will deliver specialist crime and operation support to both forces.

Mr Keeble said: “We are quite supportive of this as a way of taking things forward because it seems to make sense. What we would hope will happen if less staff are required in certain areas is that we might see a return of more officers to the frontline, which is what members of the public want to see.”