OVERALL police numbers in Lancashire have dropped by nearly 15 per cent in the past five years, the latest figures reveal.

The statistics show officer numbers in the county are down by 473 compared to the same point in 2012.

Police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw has blamed the decreased numbers on the 'very real impact from years of the Government's continued austerity in policing' which has seen cuts of £72 million since 2010.

Mr Grunshaw said: "Partners have also had difficult financial decisions to make, withdrawing funding towards PCSOs in what is further evidence of the cuts across the public sector having a real impact on policing in Lancashire. I have maintained my commitment to match all PCSO funding from partners and will work with them to mitigate the impact where funding is withdrawn.

"I work closely with Lancashire Constabulary to ensure that local policing teams remain a key part of policing our communities, in spite of the continued pressures from a funding gap that the Government continually fails to address. Whilst I continue to lobby the Government for fairer funding that addresses the increasing demand being faced by our officers, I know that our neighbourhood policing teams are working hard to deliver the high quality service that the people of Lancashire need and deserve."

The figures show neighbourhood officer numbers are down by 12.9 per cent, police officer and PCSO numbers have reduced by 25.7 per cent, while PCSOs alone have decreased by 35.8 per cent.

The Home Office has said police funding is due to be increased and that data from the Office for National Statistics show traditional crime is continuing to fall.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We know the nature of crime is changing, and we’ve spoken to every police force in the country to understand the demands they are facing.

“In December, we set out a comprehensive settlement to strengthen local and national policing, which will mean police funding will increase by up to £450 million next year.

“We are clear that effective local policing needs to be about more than just visibility in isolation. With crime increasingly taking place behind closed doors and online it is also about safeguarding vulnerable groups or individuals and giving the police the powers they need to deal with emerging and hidden crimes.”