Front line policing 'in jeopardy' The Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, Tony Melville, says his force is heading towards a "cliff edge" because of budget cuts and a freeze in the amount raised for policing through council tax. He told the Today programme's Evan Davis that a combination of early, national and local cuts have created an "extraordinary challenge" to policing. He also said they have "re-engineered" their police force to make efficiency savings but common sense dictates that further cuts will effect front line policing.