Kent wanted to recruit another 474 PCSOs but can afford only 273

The force had budgeted for an extra 474 PCSOs by April 2008 but will now only have funding for 273.

"PCSOs are an integral part of dealing with low-level quality of life issues that affect everyone," said Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard.

The Home Office said it was committed to neighbourhood policing.

But Asst Ch Con Leppard said the government had pulled the funding "at the stroke of a pen".

He said the force had given commitments to communities in Kent and Medway to deliver neighbourhood policing.

Research shows us that where PCSOs are deployed, anti-social behaviour goes down and quality of life issues improve Ann Barnes

"Now we have effectively got to withdraw from some of those commitments," he said.

"What is more frustrating is the timing.

"We were given four months' notice before the beginning of the financial year - you wouldn't run a business like that and we shouldn't be expected to run a public service like that."

Anne Barnes, chair of Kent Police Authority, said it was in the middle of a two-year planning cycle.

"We are encouraged to plan and manage our resources and this Home Office decision, coming out of the blue, totally undermines our plans."

She said the decision was particularly unfair for Kent.

'Having real effect'

"A lot of police forces have not been able to recruit as many PCSOs as they originally intended.

"That is not the case in Kent - we are recruiting some very good people.

"We are one of the few counties that has done research on the effect of PCSOs.

"It shows us that where they are deployed, anti-social behaviour goes down and quality of life issues improve.

"They are having a real effect."

Take longer

She said the authority was asking Kent MPs and local authorities to write to the Home Office to protest.

Asst Ch Con Leppard said the force had 500 existing police officers, PCSOs and support staff working on neighbourhood policing but it would now take longer to roll out the programme across the county.

The Home Office spokesman said the Police Service nationally had made excellent progress in delivering neighbourhood policing with fewer numbers of PCSOs than expected.

The new settlement would pay for 16,000 new PCSOs and was a funding increase of 41%.

"These changes follow representations from the police service pressing for greater freedom to decide locally the best way of delivering visible, responsive and accessible policing," it said.