Chairman Byron Rhodes said at a budget meeting on Thursday that 60 current vacancies would not be filled this year because of a funding shortfall.

Mr Rhodes warned the job cuts could reach 100.

A Home Office spokesperson said the Police Service in England & Wales had benefited from a significant increase in resources over a sustained period.

Minister meeting

He said the government had given Leicestershire �111.5m for the 2007/08 period - an increase of �4m, which was in line with other forces in England and Wales.

But Mr Rhodes said he would be meeting with Policing Minister Tony McNulty to try and resolve the forces funding problems in March.

"At the moment we're carrying about 60 vacancies, more than 40 of them are police officers and that's going to have to continue into next year and the numbers may increase.

"It (the job cuts) could go into three figures, not immediately but it all depends on what happens with the funding settlement next year.