MOVES to halve the number of officers in Suffolk Constabulary’s traffic unit have been condemned, amid fears over their effect on emergency response times.

Although senior officers stress no final decision has been made to reduce the unit from 45 posts to 21, the force is aligning its resources with Norfolk Constabulary.

In addition to the staffing reduction, the traffic base at Halesworth is also highly likely to be axed.

The news comes as police revealed more than 1,300 motorists were caught speeding during a crackdown in Suffolk between August 22 and 28.

Commenting on the results, Inspector Bruce Gent said: “The figures are still too high.”

The part speeding plays in fatal and serious injury collisions is also often highlighted by police.

Suffolk Constabulary was at pains to point out that all officers are trained to deal with policing Suffolk’s roads.

However, within its ranks there is also concern about how the likely closure of Halesworth would affect the current back-up provided to the response teams who answer emergency calls in the Leiston, Lowestoft and Beccles areas.

In total 100 Suffolk police officer posts – nearly 10% of the force – are to go over the next two years, due the need to find savings of almost �14million.

The crushing financial pressure has been brought about through a massive drop in government funding.

However, Matt Gould, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said: “The roads policing units in Norfolk and Suffolk are to become one unit in an effort to reduce costs.

“Officers have been told their numbers will fall from 45 posts, to 21 posts in Suffolk, and Halesworth traffic base will close.

“The inevitable upshot is that there will be less highly-trained officers, to respond to emergency calls in Suffolk.

“The unit not only deal with road traffic matters, but deal with crimes of all descriptions, and provide a resource to local police units.

“The closure of any of the bases would not improve our ability to respond to the public who live in the vicinity.”

Ipswich road safety campaigner Michelle Luetchford - who lost one sister, Emma, to a dangerous driver while another, Becky, was seriously injured - said: “I think it is a shame they are looking to cut traffic officers.

“In our case if it was not for the emergency response I don’t think Becky would be here today.

“The authorities keep taking everything away. The traffic officers are vital for everything to work as it does.”

Any proposed changes must still be approved by the county’s police authority.

Asked about the proposals, Assistant Chief Constable Gary Kitching said: “Over the next four years Suffolk Constabulary has to make savings of at least �13.6 million.

“To do this, we have to come up with a financial plan, which will make savings in key areas.

“The organisation will reduce in size by approximately 300 people over the next four years. To make the required savings a number of areas of our business are being looked at.

“Collaboration with Norfolk Constabulary is on going and progressing on several fronts.

“Our roads policing unit is also subject to this process, but final decisions haven’t yet been made.”