Officials deny a potential freeze on hiring back-office police staff is about tight finances.

That's despite one of the country's top cops warning staff of a more 'fiscally constrained' environment, in an email seen by our newsroom.

It includes cuts to contractors and consultants and a pause on hiring fulltime non-constabulary staff.

But Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says it's about looking forward.

"Making sure that police are prepared for what's in front of us and making sure we're focused on delivering services in our districts and being a really good steward of the money that we've got."

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