Autumn Statement: George Osborne protects police budget to help safeguard Britain from Paris-style terror attacks

The move will see overall spending on police increase by £900m in cash terms by 2019/20

Cuts of up to 20 per cent were expected to the police budget (Corbis)

Police numbers have been protected after fears George Osborne would wield the axe as part of a fresh round of spending cuts.

In a major surprise, the Chancellor ruled out a cut in the policing budget as he delivered his three-year spending review in the House of Commons.

Cuts as high as 20 per cent were reported in the run-up to the Comprehensive Review and Labour were demanding no more than 10 per cent be cut.

Instead Mr Osborne said armed officer numbers will be boosted to safeguard Britain from a Paris-style terror attack.

It comes after months of simmering tension between officers and the Home Office over possible cuts.

The move will see overall spending on police increase by £900m in cash terms by 2019/20, although this also depends on income from local precepts - money raised through council tax by individual forces.

Mr Osborne said: “The public should be reassured that the police will have the resources they need to respond to new threats rapidly and effectively to keep people safe."