THE fight against crime in Hampshire has been dealt a blow after the Government slashed more than 200 police support officers in the region.

Hampshire Constabulary's Assistant Chief Constable for territorial operations, Simon Cole, said the force was "disappointed" the Home Office's Police Reform Unit was outlining changes to the Neighbourhood Policing Fund, which would mean less Police Community Support Officers on the streets.

He said plans to make neighbourhoods safer were based on recruiting 539 PCSOs by April 2008 - that had now been reduced to 333 by the Home Office.

PCSOs have been on the streets since autumn, after completing their training.

The impact on the numbers for the parts of the force that cover Winchester and Eastleigh were still being assessed, a spokesman said.

Mr Cole said: "We have, to date, recruited around 200 PCSOs.

"The PCSOs are proving to be extremely popular in communities, and are highly valued members of our existing safer neighbourhood teams.

"We are disappointed that the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will not now benefit from the number of PCSOs that was originally intended."

Hampshire Police Authority also reacted angrily.

But in a statement, the Home Office, said: "We are making these changes in response to requests from the police service itself for greater flexibilities and freedoms, in order to decide locally the best way of delivering visible, responsive, and accessible policing.

"Settlement provides for an increase of 41 per cent in funding for Police and Community Support Officers and neighbourhood policing in 2007/08, and indicates a willingness to consider additional flexibility on the Crime Fighting Fund for all forces in 2007/08."