The Police Federation has warned that the fight against crime will undoubtedly suffer following the drastic autumn spending reductions. The body, which speaks for front-line police, said about 40,000 jobs are in jeopardy and that crime rates (which have been trimmed in the past year) will go in the opposite direction. The Federation's warning came after some constabularies said they already plan to axe substantial proportions of their workforces — 20 per cent in some cases. This is in line with the expected 25% cut to the police budget in England and Wales.