An organisation representing Met police officers has warned of "difficult decisions" after the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Peter Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said cost-cutting in the force would not simply be a case of "efficiency savings and selling the odd building".

He said: "It is too early to say how the cuts will affect policing in London and there will doubtless be some difficult decisions to be made over the coming months."

Chancellor George Osborne yesterday announced cuts which it is estimated will hit forces across the UK hard.

Mr Smyth warned: "It will not simply be a case of efficiency savings and selling the odd building. There will also have to be wholesale cuts to services.

"In this climate of uncertainty, people who live and work in London will be worried about the impact the cuts may have on their safety and we share their concern.

"If high visibility policing is to be maintained when police officer numbers are falling, some policing tasks will inevitably have fewer resources devoted to them.

"Perhaps the Home Secretary would like to suggest which of these are downgraded Fraud, perhaps? Or paedophile units? Policing of the Olympics in 2012?

"But we can say one thing for certain. However much the Met is financially shackled, London’s police officers will strive to maintain the highest standard of service which budgets permit."