Police community support officers are paid members of forces who share some, but not all powers of a police officer.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts said they “make a significant contribution”.
“As we continue to be impacted by the legacy of austerity, we have got to look at ways of working differently.”
He said the planned changes “would put more warranted police officers in our local policing teams going forwards than we have had this year”.
“The public have told us that they want more police officers on the streets tackling crime, and these proposals will support that work, whilst also supporting the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.”