HAMPSHIRE police officers and bosses are celebrating today after the force was rated as ‘good’ in an annual independent assessment.

Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes have welcomed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary's (HMIC) annual assessment of the force as providing a good service to the people of Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

But there are warnings that further budget cuts from central government would seriously impact frontline services.

Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “There is good news for people in this independent report. It shows that our communities are getting a good service, and they are getting it for less money than elsewhere in the country.

“It has been possible to do these two things together because we have been ahead of the game in making tough decisions to reform our back office functions and policing model.

“Only by making cuts this way have we been able to keep investing in neighbourhood policing. As today's report states, this is in contrast to national concerns about gradually eroding this key area of policing.”

“The report does, however, underline a clear note of concern. We are already extremely efficient.

“If budgets are cut further beyond 2016 we will be hit disproportionately hard and we will have no other option but to further reduce our frontline services. This can only impact our ability to serve the victims of crime.”

Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, also warned that further cuts would hit the force hard.

He said: “It is reassuring the HMIC Crime Inspection Report highlights areas where Hampshire Constabulary is performing well.

“This report does highlight the detrimental impact that further Government cuts to policing will have on the Constabulary’s ability to maintain and improve their performance in the future.

"The loss of around £80m in Government funding has already taken a significant toll on what is already a lean and efficient low cost force.

“Government and HMIC must realise that we have reached a point where we can no longer do more with less.”