LANCASHIRE’S most senior police officers are set to receive massive bonuses.

The Chief Constable, his deputy and three assistants, along with a senior staff member, are being put forward for cash rewards of up to 15 per cent of their salaries. Police authority chiefs said bonuses – set at the maximum that could be awarded – were deserved because the officers had exceeded all their targets.

But political leaders said the rewards would upset people hit by the recession. They believe the cash would be better spent putting extra police officers on the streets.

And the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said it would be nice if its members received similar bonuses for the work they did on the front line.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan could receive a 15 per cent bonus and his second in command, Deputy Chief Constable Michael Cunningham, 12.5 per cent.

Assistant Chief constable Wendy Walker is in line for 10 per cent while her counterparts Chris Weigh and Andy Cooke will be moved up two salary bands.

Director of Resources David Brindle is also being put forward for a 10 per cent bonus.

The pay award committee could have recommended bonuses as little as five per cent, but have chosen the biggest rewards possible.

When advertising a couple of years ago, the Chief Constable post carried a salary of around £130,000 a year.

This means the proposed payouts could see the police shelling out tens of thousands of pounds.

The rises come at a time when the force is making £3.6million ‘efficiency savings’ because of a ‘challenging financial position’ which led to an above inflation 4.5 per cent increase in the police council tax precept.

Members of the Lancashire Police Authority will vote on the proposals at a meeting this Wednesday.

A report from a pay award committee has recommended the bonus be approved to reward the chiefs for helping to bring down crime and the force again being rated as one of the best in the country.

Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans said: “When Lancashire police is asking people to accept high precepts because they claim it will aid them to tackle crime it is wrong that the money is now being spent in this way.

“I am not a fan of bonuses for public servants anyway.”

“This urgently needs looking at.

“People should be paid to do their job and not expect any bonuses just for doing it correctly.”

Coun Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat leader of Burnley Council, said: “I can’t believe they are getting bonuses just for doing what they are paid to do in the first place.

“They are paid well enough as it is and they should take pride in reaching their targets, not a bonus.”

Conservative leader of Hyndburn Council, Coun Peter Britcliffe, called for the proposals to be scrutinised.

He said: “This needs looking at very carefully because figures like this, at a time like this, are very difficult to justify.

“It would be better to not increase their wages which would therefore enable the police authority to keep their council tax precept as low as possible next year.”

Police officers’ pay will increase by around 2.6 per cent this year.

John O’Reilly, of Lancashire Police Federation, said parity in the pay scales would be welcomed.

He said: “I am sure some of our members would like these bonus payments but they are not part of our pay negotiations.

“We have a very good working relationship with our bosses and if they deserve it they should get it.”

Malcolm Doherty, chairman of Lancashire Police Authority, would only comment to say: “No decision has been made on these proposals and they will only be ratified at the next police authority meeting.”

Miranda Carruthers-Watt, chief executive of Lancashire Police Authority, said the proposals were in accordance with the Chief Officer Bonus Scheme.

She said: “It has been reported in a totally transparent process and is linked to the excellent performance of Lancashire Constabulary.”