THE latest provisional police funding settlement may not be enough to cover officers' salaries, the Association of Chief Police Officers has warned.

Reacting to last week's announcement which gave Lancashire an increase of just 3.1 per cent on last year ACPO president Sir David Phillips said the cash may not cover inflation and pay.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has promised to meet Lancashire Chief Constable Pauline Clare to discuss the force's funding settlement which the county's top cop has described as "disappointing".

Lancashire Constabulary bosses have said cuts to services were inevitable after it received only £6million in extra funding for next year, a figure which the force considers inadequate to meet its expanding workload and commitments.

Sir David said: "Forces have to face a pay increase of 3.5 per cent and pay is the greater part of our expenditure.

"Neither does this settlement take account of any future pay increase in September 2002 or the increase in pension settlements."