Police are to get their smallest budget for nine years after a $4 million cut yesterday.Figures released as part of the Budget Statement showed that the amount allocated to the island’s law enforcers for 2020-21 was $61.8 million.The original and revised figure for the 2019-20 fiscal year was $65.8 million.Sources said that senior members of the police service were stunned by the reduction.The news came after Ben Smith, the shadow national security minister, raised fears about a $4 million “slash” to the BPS budget last week.He said yesterday: “It gives me no joy to say I was correct, as I think the police budget should have been protected — if not increased.“While no frontline posts are to go, there are other issues that need addressing, which could greatly affect frontline policing.“Officers I have spoken to say they are being increasingly tied up in administration and court appearances. “Despite that, they are still working hard to catch the criminals, but I fear they are being stretched and risk suffering burn out.”Mr Smith, a One Bermuda Alliance MP, added: “Cutting money will not help with the administration burden, so either solutions are found for that issue or extra money is made available to allow the addition of more officers.”Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, told the House of Assembly: “The Ministry of National Security has been provided with a budget of $134.8 million, the same as last year.”He added: “The Ministry of National Security has embarked on a reallocation initiative within the ministry to better align funding with strategic and operational priorities. “This has been achieved by reallocating funds from the Bermuda Police Service, while still fully maintaining frontline police levels and capabilities at current levels. “In particular, the department will benefit from more than $1 million in savings as a result of lower costs for its public safety radios.”Budget books showed that current account expenditure estimates for police in the years from 2012-13 to 2018-19 ranged between $64.4 million and $71 million.The Bermuda Police Service declined to comment.