Police officials said the force was one of the lowest-funded nationally and �1.4m must be saved in the new financial year.

They stressed it would not mean fewer bobbies on the beat but would improve the efficiency of the force.

The Police Federation said it would be unacceptable and should not be allowed. But Ch Supt Dave Wheeler said it was a necessary cost cutting measure.

We can do no more without severely reducing the level of service we provide to the people of Lincolnshire by Lincolnshire Police Andy Rolfe, Chairman, Lincolnshire Police Federation

"To allay any concerns, rather than reduce the number of front-line officers, this may actually increase the number of operational officers," he said.

"Potentially there's an awful lot of money to be saved and of course the force are in this position not because we want to but because we have to.

"So, we're looking at the �1.4m shortfall in the next financial year, a substantial amount of that money might be saved by this project."

The force is reviewing up to 100 police positions to decide whether they can be taken on by civilian staff instead.

It is anticipated that at least 50 positions will become civilian posts in the new financial year which begins next week and 50 more posts could follow.

The county's Police Federation chairman Andy Rolfe said: "Someone in the Police Authority should stand up and say we can do no more without severely reducing the level of service we provide to the people of Lincolnshire by Lincolnshire Police."