POLICE bosses are planning a multi-million cost-cutting exercise over the next five years.

Financial experts have been taking a close look at the Lancashire force's accounts and estimate about £15 million-worth of savings will have to be made.

Chief Constable Pauline Clare expressed personal disappointment at the level of government funding last year, when the Home Secretary made his annual announcement. But Mrs Clare has pledged any savings will be be made from areas not likely to affect front line policing.

Experts have carried out a five-year financial forecast of the constabulary, which was discussed at the Lancashire Police Authority's finance and general purposes committee yesterday.

Every year, about £170 million is spent policing the county, with more than £100 million going on wages.

According to the estimates, savings worth more than £3.5 million will have to be found in the year 2000. Similar cuts will have to be made in the following four-year period ending with a reduction of £3.175 million in 2004.

Each of the police divisions covering Lancashire has responsibility for its own budget. Divisional commanders have sole responsibility for their budgets and will have to make decisions about where to make the savings.

The situation could get even worse if extra money has to be found for unforeseen projects or circumstances.

And pay increases for officers and civilian support staff are likely to have a major impact on the final figures.

Heads of departments will be meeting the police authority's financial experts to look at the best ways of reducing costs.

A final decision on where the money will be saved from is likely to be made in December, when the police authority sets its budget for the coming year.

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