Home Office may be forced to cut police numbers as result of Treasury deal

Police chiefs including the commissioner of the Metropolitan police had publicly lobbied the government for more money in recent weeks. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The Home Office could still be forced to cut the overall number of police officers after lengthy spending review negotiations with the Treasury.

Whitehall sources said the department had been asked to look at all options including limiting officer recruitment, which would mean an overall cut in the headcount.