THAMES Valley Police’s iconic mounted horse section and its faithful team of dogs seem to be safe from the axe – for the time being.

But the expected average £12 annual rise in the police precept across the Thames Valley was confirmed on Tuesday.

Chief Constable Francis Habgood presented a financial plan to Anthony Stansfeld, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, at a public meeting at the force’s headquarters in Oxford.

He said that no decision had been made yet about the long term future of the mounted horse section - although he confirmed it was safe until summer 2019.

He admitted police officers had asked if alternative ways could be found to fund the iconic service and said options would be considered.

Thames Valley also has more dog handlers and dogs than equivalent forces which will have to be reviewed, while vacancies in the road policing unit will not be filled.

The force has been ordered to make a further £15million worth of savings over the next three years.

Police and Crime Commissioner Stansfeld said his officers had already had to cope with a £99m cut in their budget in the last seven years.

He said: “We have now reached the stage that any further cuts would have a fundamental impact on the front line.“Before I made a decision on the level of council tax I sought the views of residents in the Thames Valley and out of 5,600 people surveyed nearly 85 per cent agreed to an increase in Council Tax to fund policing.”

The average £12 rise will apply to Band D properties.

Chief Constable Francis Habgood said: “We need to find and will find savings of about £15 million over the next three years. Thames Valley Police already has a great track record in improving efficiency.

“We have already saved about £99 million since 2010. That is almost a quarter of the budget for next year.”

He said: “We will always be required to make tough decisions about how best to shape our organisation. We have to both deliver today, and also plan for the future to ensure we continue to keep the communities of Thames Valley safe.”

The budget will now go to the Police and Crime Panel on February 2 for final ratification.