MAJOR changes at Essex Police will be announced today.

The force has been putting together a plan for the future.

It follows Government funding cuts during the past five years with more expected during the next five.

Today Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh will announce how they plan to reform and cope.

The plans will then go out to public consultation.

The announcement is expected to include which police stations and buildings will be closed.

It is anticipated the force will close more than 60 per cent of its buildings with 50 out of 80 set to be sold.

In 2010 the force had more than 100 sites and stations.

Cuts to the number of officers, PCSOS and police staff will also be on the agenda.

In 2010 Essex Police had 3,600 officers.

Today it has about 3,000.

Worst case predictions, by chairman of the Essex Police Federation Mark Smith, suggest this figure could drop to closer to 2,000 by 2020.

PCSO numbers have almost halved, to about 250, and will fall again.

Essex is in a particularly difficult position because the vast majpority of its budget comes from Government grants.

In other parts of the country council tax contributions help however residents in Essex pay among the lowest amounts.

The average UK household contributes about £200 via council tax for policing.

In Essex it is closer to £150.

The press conference, held jointly with Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston, will also detail changes to the way the public engage with, and contact, the police and what will happen to neighbourhood policing.

Mr Alston has already stated the days of bobbies on the beat are over and Julia Wortley, Assistant Chief Constable for Essex Police, has asked councils to deal with 97 per cent of antisocial behaviour.

The press conference will begin at 1pm with updates here.