CHIEF Constable Paul Stephenson today said he needed 500 extra officers to run Lancashire police effectively - but the claim has put him on a collision course with the Government.

Mr Stephenson believes the current force strength of 3,524 is not enough and is causing the fear of crime to rise, even though the crime rate, with the exception of violent crime, is falling.

He believes that the 500 extra officers would allow police to tackle anti-social behaviour and respond to incidents more quickly - making the public feel safer.

Mr Stephenson's plan would cost £17million over three years, but the force's Home Office funding for the next financial year has only increased by the rate of inflation.

That means the only way to fund his proposals would be through council tax rises for police services of up to 25 per cent, equating to £22.36 extra a year for Band D households.

But Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford has warned that he would cap any such large increases, seemingly scuppering Mr Stephenson's plans.

Councillors on the Lancashire Police Authority, which sets the council tax rise, are making desperate representations to the Government to allow the rise ahead of February 20 when a decision will have to be made.

They intend to justify the increase to ministers by telling them that the current police council tax charge in Lancashire of £87.57 is the second lowest in the country for shire forces and that a 25 per cent increase would simply bring them to the level of other forces.

And the councillors' lobbying will be boosted by a six-week consultation of 3,000 residents in which 64 per cent of people questioned said they would be happy to pay an extra £22.36.

County councillor Geoff Roper, chairman of the authority's resources committee, which sets the level, said the force needed a 10 per cent increase in council tax just to stand still.

He added: "At the moment, it is all up in the air; we don't know what level we will set.

"We are trapped between the Government and the wishes of the people of Lancashire. The Office for the Deputy Prime Minister is threatening capping and that is something we have to avoid at all costs."

"I think the Government should look at how much it would cost overall, rather than percentages which seem quite horrific.

"We have always been a very prudent authority. Our intention is to maintain that prudence but we find ourselves in a difficult position.

"We would like to provide the people of Lancashire with the police service they deserve."

Mr Stephenson, in his 'Blueprint' document, says that Lancashire has 239 officers per 100,000 people, 19 less than the national average. So, he claims, the county has 266 too few officers compared to most forces. But he wants to recruit an extra 500 officers in total over three years so a 'real difference' can be made to people's lives.