WEST Yorkshire Police are in the process of recruiting 96 new officers.

But the region’s Police Federation has warned it will not offset the loss of up to 1,000 officers due to the spending review cuts.

And new constables’ starting salaries will be £4,000 less than current rates under a move which will save £1m nationally.

There will also be no compulsory redundancies until further negotiations Home Secretary Theresa May, announced earlier this week.

She approved the radical overhaul proposed last year by lawyer Tom Winsor and cut the starting salary for police constables to £19,000.

Constables who have previously worked as special constables or PCSOs would start on £22,000 depending on skills.

But serving officers will be able to rise through the pay scale quicker to £36,000 as the grades are reduced.

West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Jon Christopher condemned the move to reduce officers starting salaries.

He said: “I think its a flawed concept to have officers starting on £19,000.

“This is around £1,000 a month after tax, ‘a living wage’ for the duties they are carrying out.”

He said the announcement that 96 new officers were being introduced in West Yorkshire was a positive move but said it was a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to the cuts already imposed.

It is hoped the recruitment drive will redress the balance of officers under 26 as figures for West Yorkshire showed a 65% drop in this age group in 2011-2012.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “I sincerely hope that changes to pay and conditions will not put people off from applying to become police officers in the future and it remains a profession that attracts high calibre recruits, in particular here in West Yorkshire.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales said that the cut in starting rate for new officers is ‘ill conceived and fails to reflect the dangers and demands inherent in the job’.