Police forces no longer able to protect public as 5,800 frontline officers cut by 2015 The Met was named as one of three forces which may not be able to provide an efficient or effective service for the public in the future. "In our professional judgment (and having considered local context, including police cost to the taxpayer), there is a risk that three forces may not be able to provide a sufficiently efficient or effective service for the public in the future," the inspectorate's report said. These were Lincolnshire and Devon & Cornwall, as well as the Met, the HMIC said. Have government cuts to policing gone too far? Meanwhile Falklands veteran Simon Weston today pulled out of the race to become one of the UK's first high-powered civilian police bosses. Mr Weston said he was withdrawing from the elections for the £100,000-a-year job of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Wales because he was becoming disillusioned and the campaign was "too political." Writing on Twitter, he said: "With regret pulling out of the PCC role for South Wales. Became disillusioned by the fact it was getting 2 political & not serving the people. His decision to pull out of the elections was confirmed by his spokesman. The commissioners, who will be elected in November, will have the power to set police budgets, decide policing priorities and hire and fire chief constables. Mr Weston, 50, a father-of-three and a former Welsh Guardsman, was badly burned when the Sir Galahad was destroyed in 1982 during the Falklands conflict. He suffered 46 per cent burns on his body and underwent 70 separate major operations or surgical procedures during a slow recovery. He overcame his injuries and went on to forge a new career as a charity worker, writer of children's books and after dinner speaker. When he announced his decision to stand in February, he urged others to follow his example to stop ageing politicians taking the roles.