MERSEYSIDE’S Chief Constable has reassured Globe readers that all will be done to protect frontline policing as "unprecedented" funding cuts start to bite.

And he warned to expect "massive changes" in the way the borough and Merseyside are policed.

In his first interview on the future of policing in Wirral, Andy Cooke disclosed: “Neighbourhood police will remain there - but with fewer senior officers."

During a visit to our offices in Birkenhead this week Mr Cooke highlighted that by 2020 the force would see the number of staff reduced by 2,000 and an increase in Community Support Officers on the streets.

The force has already had to cut its budget by £77m since 2010 and faces a further £48m of savings by 2019.

Mr Cooke, who took over from Sir Jon Murphy in July this year, said: “These are unprecedented cuts which mean there are going to be massive changes.

"It is a fact of life these days but as far as the public are concerned there shouldn’t be a difference in the police people see on the streets.

“Our aim is to for traditional policing with modern values and we are retaining the same local approach to tackling crime.

“Staff are going through a massive change.

“Neighbourhood police will remain there - but with fewer senior officers. People should see an increase in the number of PCSOs.

“At the moment Wirral has so many response areas to cover. It may be that our cars will be deployed to other areas, or brought in from Liverpool."

Back in December of last year Birkenhead MP Frank Field demanded answers over the "worryingly large" number of yobs being allowed to "force a life of misery and fear" on residents.

He wrote to police chiefs on behalf of householders who had reported instances of crime and anti-social behaviour "only to be left dismayed by an apparent lack of response."

Mr Cooke said: “We are working hard with Wirral Council on early intervention schemes to tackle many issues.

“For example there have been concerns about anti-social behaviour in Birkenhead. We are tackling this and there has been a real improvement.

“But it’s still an issue. The bigger the challenge, the more resources we will put into it.

"There's anti-social behaviour, tomfoolery and crimininality and we want the public to continue to play its part to help tackle these issues.

"Scrambler bikes are a real anti-social behaviour problem and there has been a great approach from the community to help us tackle this.

"They are causing a nuisance to other road-users and themselves.

"If bikes are being used in an anti-social way we will act."

In response, Mr Field said: "This time of year has in the recent past produced waves of thuggish behaviour in parts of Birkenhead.

"Residents have been fearful and subsequently lost faith in the authorities’ ability to protect them.

"Halloween and Bonfire Night will of course put them to the test again this year, but in recent weeks there does seem to have been a marked improvement in the police response to residents’ concerns.

"The Globe has joined with me in calling for action on this front and the council deserves credit for offering the police the resources it needs to respond quickly and effectively to reports of antisocial behaviour.

"If residents do continue to suffer the effects of antisocial behaviour I would urge them immediately to contact the police and then, once they’ve been given a crime number, to contact my office so we can follow-up on their concerns."