Norfolk police are taking on a bank of “scene guards” to watch over crime scenes for £10 an hour. It is believed to be the first force in the country to take such a radical step, which critics say is policing on the cheap.

Labour said it was a sign of how far police forces were being stretched by government cuts.

Norfolk police say they believe it is the best way of getting value out of the resources they have. Those being recruited could be former police officers or people who have worked in the military.

Last year Norfolk eliminated its police community support officers, a decision that affected 150 people. The force said the money spent employing them had risen to the point where they cost almost the same as a fully trained police officer.

The more than £1m saved has been partly used for more police officers, who have wider powers, while some of the money will go to scene guards, who will be paid as and when they are required.

The advert for the role says duties will include “preserving the integrity of the crime/incident scene, detailing all persons entering/leaving the scene” and “dealing with enquiries from the public and media”.

Applicants need a set of skills including “ability to maintain concentration for prolonged periods” and it helps if those applying have “experience of working with confidential and sensitive information … experience of working in a police environment or similar … ability to problem-solve” and “experience of dealing with confrontation”.