COUNCIL tax payers should expect 13 per cent rises for police services next year, it has been revealed.

The figure is slightly less than the widely reported 15 per cent figure, but still means Band D householders paying £99 a year, an extra £11.43, for the same level of service.

For the financial year 2004/5, police services are expected to cost £227.983 million, a rise of £11.183 million.

The government is providing an extra £5.29 million, taking its contribution to £182.9 million.

Therefore, council tax payers' contribution will be £45.083 million, an increase of £5.283 million.

Lancashire Police Authority has outlined the increased costs to illustrate why there will be extra cash, but more or less the same level of service.

The main ones are:

Between three and 3.5 per cent pay awards to staff totalling £7.701 million and £80,000 for increased costs of the Police Authority, including the appointment of a public relations officer.

Pension costs increasing by £1.6 million due to number of officers expected to retire

Increased insurance premiums of £110,000, reduction in a government grant of £540,000 and £200,00 extra for security costs for crown court trials

An extra £300,000 for high-tech video identification parade suites, £300,000 for extra use of DNA and fingerprint databases and £155,000 for the creation of six full-time and one part-time posts for licensing firearms and explosives.

A police authority report which details next year's budget draws attention to the government's threat to cap council tax rises greater than inflation, which is a 2.5 per cent.

But it says: "At an increase of 13.05 per cent, it is likely that Lancashire would be at the lower end of increases generally, which would leave the Lancashire council tax levy still significantly below the average.

"In comparison with other police authorities, Lancashire's levels of expenditure and council tax are relatively low."

The average police bill this year for council tax payers in shire police authorities is £111.33.

Police council tax bills in Lancashire have risen every year but one since 1995 when it cost householders £45.18.