Islwyn MP Chris Evans has warned that cuts to the policing budget will have a huge impact on frontline policing in Gwent.
Labour MP Mr Evans said: “ cuts that the government are forcing on Gwent Police will make it very hard to avoid reductions in police numbers.
“Police authorities have already had to stop recruiting because of the cuts. The recruitment freeze, when combined with retirements, is already leading to a fall in the numbers of officers and staff walking the beat and manning our police stations.
“Gwent Police Authority has already made significant efficiency savings in the last year. Further cuts are going to put a huge black hole in its finances. To cover this, the local authority will have no option but to look at other ways of raising money which will hit people who are already struggling.
“Police forces are simply not going to be able to provide as many services to the community as they used to and this is going to have a huge impact on levels of crime and community cohesion.
“By forcing police authorities to make the biggest cuts early, police forces will be unable to plan long-term and make the sort of long-term efficiency savings that would make it possible to protect front-line services.”