Superintendent Murdo Maciver made the comments after he took on the task of fronting G Division following Chief Superintendent Graham Sinclair's secondment to look into how Lothian and Borders Police will cut £43million from its budget.

He told TheSouthern: "Due to projected cuts in policing budgets a restructuring programme is currently being carried out and will be implemented in the next six to nine months.

"As a result of this review there will be a reduction in supervising posts in order to retain frontline policing."

TheSouthern understands this could mean up to seven of the 37 sergeants in G Division who are due to retire or leave will be not replaced.

The job losses concern Jackie Muller, secretary of the Lothian and Borders branch of the Scottish Police Federation.

She told us: "I am aware that divisional commanders have been asked to submit proposals for efficiency savings and look forward to proper and full consultation before any final decisions are made - this is the guarantee I have received from the Force Executive and I am therefore surprised to hear that this decision regarding the slashing of posts in the Borders area has been announced before that consultation has taken place.

"This is clearly a matter that directly impacts on our members."

She added: "The Joint Branch Board acknowledges the hugely difficult fiscal times ahead and will work with the force to make efficiency savings where it is safe to do so - but we will resist any moves that put our members or the public at risk of harm, or a lesser service than they deserve."

John Lamont, MSP for Berwickshire and Roxburghshire, backed plans to cut back other police services to save frontline jobs.

Mr Lamont, who is also the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman, said: "Thanks to the economic mess created by the last Labour Government, there will be some very difficult funding decisions to be taken over the next few years.

"However, we need to ensure that frontline policing is protected whenever possible. If possible, backroom services should be streamlined and rationalised to achieve savings."

No-one is due to replace CS Sinclair as divisional commander during his secondment.

But Supt Maciver will be supported by CS Mark Williams of E Division (East Lothian and Midlothian) and Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick.

And Iain Whyte, convener of the Lothian and Borders Police Board, said it was important that the post of divisional commander in the Borders was retained amid speculation it could lost in the forthcoming cuts.

He added: "We feel it is very important to have a divisional commander to engage with all the partners in each of the local areas.