People in north Wales could witness a "huge increase" in council tax or a reduction in the number of officers, according to a member of the police authority.

The warning follows the government's decision to review funding issues.

If funding is cut they [residents] will either have a very substantial hike in council tax, a reduction in manpower or both

Nigel Thomas North Wales Police Authority

At a meeting in Colwyn Bay, Nigel Thomas, North Wales Police Authority treasurer, said although figures had not been announced, the suspicion was there would be insufficient funds to keep up with inflation over the next three years.

Mr Thomas said: "The changes that are being proposed would see money being moved from rural to urban forces."

Concerns were also raised that the large Metropolitan areas would receive preferential funding.

"To a certain extent this is happening already as the police authority in the south east of England get more money because the cost of living there is more expensive," he said.

Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom

"If funding is cut, they [residents] will either have a very substantial hike in council tax, a reduction in manpower or both."

However, council tax payers in north Wales already pay 25% towards the policing bill in the region.

That figure compares to 12% in Manchester and 6% in London.

The government has commissioned a consultation paper to outline how rural and urban police forces are funded.

Welsh Assembly

Research is being conducted to discover whether one is more costly than the other.

Speaking at the North Wales Police Authority meeting on Friday, the force's chief constable Richard Brunstrom said there was no evidence that it costs more to police an urban area than a rural one.

However his colleague Mr Thomas insisted that was more expensive to police areas such as north Wales because of the large geographical area covered.

"If everyone is working on a standard response time then you've got further to go in a rural area and have to employ more officers to ensure they can reach everywhere within a set time," he said.

The authority is expected to know the outcome of the report in November.

In the meantime they will address their fears to MPs and members of the Welsh Assembly.