POLICE chiefs have claimed that a county's biggest shake-up in policing for a decade will result in more bobbies on the beat and no redundancies.

Under the sweeping changes, due to be implemented next April, the six police divisions in County Durham will be rearranged to become just four.

The Chester-le-Street, Durham and Derwentside forces will become one, while Wear and Tees will be amalgamated with Sedgefield division. Darlington and Easington divisions will be unaffected.

But despite staff fears over job losses, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Garvin said the changes would not lead to redundancies and would result in more front-line police officers.

Mr Garvin said: "Some people may be required to work from different locations or do a slightly different job, but we want to engage with all staff to make sure changes are implemented with the minimum of disruption and upset."

He said management teams and some overheads would be reduced and any savings used to put at least 20 more officers on the beat.

Each of the four new divisions will have a communication room, linked via a new radio network.

Plans for a closer working relationship between the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts are also being considered.

All the proposed changes mean plans for the Derwentside division to move to new premises have been temporarily shelved.

The police authority will be asked to discuss the proposals, which include merging personnel and training departments, next month.