Axing long-serving police officers on controversial retirement grounds will cost the taxpayer more than keeping them on and was one of the “ludicrous consequences” of the Government’s decision to “cut so far and so fast”, politicians have claimed.

West Midlands Police waved goodbye to 175 experienced officers in March after implementing the A19 Regulation as it looked to find £40million worth of savings this year alone.

New figures show that over the coming year, a further 176 officers, including 99 police constables and five chief superintendents, will be told they will have to retire once they reach 30 years of pensionable service whether they want to go or not.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said while cutting the officers would help slash the wage bill of individual police authorities, the savings would be cancelled out by extra costs to the Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs.

Her comments came as Home Secretary Theresa May was warned by disenchanted rank-and-file officers that 20 per cent budget cuts imposed on police forces were “catastrophic” and risked sending the service into meltdown.

Ms Cooper said: “Forcing police officers to retire early may save the police authority money, but it costs the revenue because they no longer pay national insurance, and it costs the Home Office because they no longer pay pension contributions and get their pension earlier.

“But it is ridiculous to just switch costs from one budget to another when it means communities lose their police officers as a result.”

West Midlands Police has lost 500 police posts in the past year, through retirements and a recruitment freeze, but could see that number double as senior officers face £125million cuts over the next four years.

A survey of rank-and-file officers showed most feared crime levels will soar and the public will get a poorer service from the police as a result of the Government cuts.

Speaking at the Police Federation Conference, in Bournemouth, the Home Secretary defended the move to cut police budgets and insisted the Government was doing everything it could to protect frontline jobs.

Responding to a wave of criticism from rank and file officers she said it was “simply not true” that the Government was singling out police over the cuts.

After listening to Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever branding the cuts unfair, Mrs May said ministers were taking action to ensure the service was on a “sustainable” footing for generations.

She added: “We do have the best police force in the world.”

Her annual keynote speech to police leaders from across the country was met with stony silence after she said it was “not my job” to tell them what they wanted to hear.

David Rathband, the Pc blinded by killer Raoul Moat, joined the wave of discontent over pay and conditions as he asked her if she thought his £35,000 wage packet was too much.

Mrs May insisted the Government would press ahead with the 20% funding slash as officers came forward to voice their anger.

Mrs May said: “I am backing the police. I’ve shown I’m backing the police.”