THE number of police officers in Lancashire has fallen despite an increase in spending.

The figures were released by the Home Office after questions were asked in the House of Commons by a group of MPs.

According to the statistics, Lancashire police force's budget went up by 3.8 per cent last year while the number of officers fell by 12.

Lancashire Constabulary has more than 3,200 officers in its ranks.

Critics say increases in funding should be reflected in the number of officers on the beat.

And the county's Chief Constable Pauline Clare instigated a massive programme of changes more than two years designed to put more officers back on the beat.

Home Secretary MP and Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual Chief Constables to determine the number of officers in their force area, within the resources available to them.

"The Home Secretary no longer has any power to set entitlements of forces."

According to the official figures, 20 police forces have cut the number of serving officers with the biggest reductions in the City of London.

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