The long arm of the law is reaching out to scrutinise police chiefs for sacking 90 officers because of their age.

The officers are challenging a decision under age discrimination provisions of the Equality Act to sack them to save money because they have 30 years on the beat.

Devon and Cornwall Police is considering axing the posts of up to 600 officers and 500 civilian support staff to save £47 million over the next four years.

At the same time, the force has celebrated an award for equality and diversity training for police sergeants.

The Police Federation, which represents the officers, says the thin blue line in the West Country is getting thinner because the force is trying to use a rule aimed at individuals to manage mass redundancies.

Federation spokesman Nigel Rabbitts said: “We’re asking the police authority to think again and that they should put a hold to these job losses, pending the result of these claims. The rule was never designed for mass compulsory retirement, it was for individuals, and the authority hasn’t shown these individuals clear reasons why they need to be retired.”

Thousands of other police officers face the sack under the same rule at forces across England and Wales.

Meanwhile a revamped equality and diversity training programme has boosted attendance on courses soar from 6% to 96%.

Niema Burns, the force’s equality and diversity training manager, said that the former five-day course was unpopular with staff, so the course was redesigned to better meet training needs.

“There was a perception that the courses did not relate directly to any core policing business,” she said. “There was no link between the training and operational aims, and objectives around equality and diversity.”

The revised course embraced the required learning standards, while covering all diversity strands and community engagement elements. Importantly, delivery was local, cutting down time away from policing.