The ACT government has been urged to reinstate $15million in savings to the territory's police force, amid growing fears that positions will be cut in coming months.
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The $15.36 million is being stripped from ACT Policing's budget over four years from 2013-14.
The force is trying to focus the savings on supplier expenses to avoid a direct impact on the employee budget.
But Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers conceded that some support positions may be "closely examined", saying the tight fiscal environment was presenting a challenge in delivering high quality police services.
"At this stage our focus of savings is on areas that support front-line policing in ACT Policing and not front-line policing itself," he said.
"While supplier budgets will continue to be scrutinised it is inevitable that to meet the savings efficiency some police support positions will need to be closely examined."
There are unconfirmed reports that 18 police positions could be cut in the short-term, and more could go in the last stages of the four-year budget cycle.
When news of the decision broke in 2013, the Australian Federal Police Association said more than 40 positions could be lost.
The AFPA said the pressure on positions would be compounded in the last two years of the measure.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson on Monday urged the government to reinstate the money, saying it was "inconceivable" such cuts would not hurt front-line policing.
"There's no question these cuts will affect front-line services.
"It is inconceivable to cut an organisation by $15 million and to reduce staff, without that then impacting on police on the beat," he said.
"We have repeatedly called on the government to reinstate that funding to police."
But Police Minister Joy Burch gave assurances that the general savings measures would not impact on front-line policing.
"There is no intention to cut from front-line policing staff," she said.
"I can assure the people of Canberra that front-line policing services will not be affected by the general savings measures being implemented across ACT Policing."
She said ACT Policing was required to find savings "like all government agencies".
Mr Hanson said a string of major crimes in the ACT recently had put significant pressure on existing police resources, and showed the decision to enforce the cuts in 2013-14 was "short-sighted".
At the time, the government and then Police Minister Simon Corbell were criticised for failing to properly consult on the decision.
There were also claims the cuts had been hidden from the public, while selling that year's budget as providing a "safe and secure Canberra".
