CUTS to the police force budgets are sounding the death knell for the traditional bobby on the beat, claims the body that represents rank-and-file police officers.

The Police Federation of England and Wales has raised concerns that neighbourhood officers in the North-East are being pulled off their beats to cover other roles.

But police chiefs in the region have stressed their commitment to retaining neighbourhood policing teams.

In County Durham, the federation claimed neighbourhood officers are being used to investigate crimes and make checks on behalf of safeguarding colleagues, rather than carry out the traditional neighbourhood role.

It adds that in Cleveland response teams and neighbourhood officers are having to cover for each other, meaning both units are short staffed.

The shortages are meaning longer hours which is hitting officer moral, it is claimed.

Talking about the situation nationally, Steve White, chair of the Police Federation, said: "Cuts really do have consequences and we see them every day.

"We are down to the bone and having to decide - neighbourhood policing or 999 calls?

"Neighbourhood policing - the source of so much information that stops the public from becoming victims of crime. Neighbourhood policing keeps people safe. Neighbourhood policing prevents terrorist attacks on our country.

"And now neighbourhood policing is just one of the endangered species in the new streamlined barren policing landscape."

In response to the concerns Durham Chief Superintendent Ivan Wood, head of neighbourhood policing, said forces were having to make difficult decision in these time of austerity.

He added "In Durham, we have made it clear that our neighbourhood policing teams, which comprise warranted ‘frontline’ officers and PCSO’s will remain, as the public of County Durham and Darlington have consistently told us they want to keep that aspect of local policing.

“We are committed to retaining neighbourhood policing teams as they form the essential link with the communities we serve.”

Cleveland Deputy Chief Constable Iain Spittal said his force was one of ten forces that had not, at this stage, reduced the number of police officers allocated to neighbourhood policing.

“The changes we have made, and will make going forwards, are always rooted in us doing the best that we can to protect our communities from harm.

“Neighbourhood policing will always be an essential component of the policing service we provide. It is clear, however, that it will not operate in exactly the same way and scale in future.”