The Metropolitan Police are luring officers away with extra incentives

Senior police officers have warned the quality of policing will seriously deteriorate unless the flow of staff transferring to the London force is halted.

Those officers transferring jobs are guaranteed special London allowances adding up to more than �4,000 a year.

In the last financial year Kent Police lost 24 officers to the Metropolitan force.

But in the last six months alone another 26 crossed over the county border.

The force tried to curb the problem earlier this year with an internal advertising campaign which highlighted the downside of London working life through the use of satirical slogans.

Pay rises

All the forces in the South East are lobbying the government to fund an increased allowance to compensate for the region's steep cost of living.

I think they would like us to pay more attention to their concerns. And I think if we can do that they will stay Assistant Chief Constable Alan Thomas

In the meantime, Kent's Police Authority is expected to consider funding its own bonus.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Thomas, who is responsible for halting the flow of officers over the border, says he thinks some can be persuaded to stay.

"I think the degree to which they are persuadable is about the change and the package that we can offer them.

"I think they would like us to pay more attention to their concerns. And I think if we can do that they will stay," he said.

It is thought the police authority will be asked next week to approve pay rises for some or all of its officers.

However, giving an extra �1,000 a year to everyone would cost more than �4m.