the face of policing in the South Hams is about to change as spending cuts filter in across the county – with some resources moving to 'hubs' in Totnes and Plymouth.

In Ivybridge, Inspector Phil Chivers currently has a team of one Sergeant, 12 PCs, three Neighbourhood Beat Managers and three PCSOs.

Policing cuts will see the number of PCs based halved to just six who will work alongside Sgt Anya Teakle and her team who will continue working from Ivybridge. The town will be welcoming a new PCSO to fill vacancies left by Becca Lockley and Matt Hawke who went on to become PCs.

But PCs who currently respond to 999 calls from Ivybridge Police Station will be moved to a 'hub' in Plymouth, from where they will respond to emergency calls.

And the Ivybridge Criminal Investigation Department will be moved to hubs in Plymouth and Totnes.

The changes are planned to come into force in May.

Insp Chivers said: 'Now we know what the cuts mean, I am building my team to look to the future. The idea behind the changes is to make the structure and management easier.

'Local policing will remain in the towns and other resources are being divided into hubs.

'The force are redrawing the lines on maps and as Ivybridge is on the edge of Plymouth some of the services currently based here will be covered from Plymouth in the future.'

Insp Chivers explained that officers responding to emergency calls will report to Plymouth before being given an area to cover and travelling to that area to ensure they are on hand if a 999 call comes through.

He explained that Devon and Cornwall Police had to lose 700 officers due to cuts. One measure introduced to help manage the cuts was mandatory retirement for any officers who have been in the force for 30 years.

They also hope to make savings by grouping officers into hubs.

Insp Chivers has been told that he will remain the Inspector for Ivybridge and Kingsbridge but will be given mandatory retirement at the end of this year.

At the moment Insp Chivers believes it is unlikely that his position will be filled, meaning that Inspectors based in Totnes are likely to take over Ivybridge and Kingsbridge from 2012.

The changes are still being considered and attempts made to 'fine tune locations' for officers being moved within the force.

Insp Chivers said: 'This wave of change will see officers in new positions doing slightly different jobs so there will be a period of transition.

'We now have the practicalities to sort out. I think there will be two months of turmoil before relative calm.'

As announced at the end of 2010 the front desk at Ivybridge Police Station will be closing from May 4.

With fewer officers based at Ivybridge Police Station they will now find themselves with plenty of room.

With land in the centre of Ivybridge at a premium and a dwindling number of officers based at the station, the future of the building has become a matter for speculation.