POLICE chiefs in Lancashire have been warned to increase the number of Asian officers in the county by Home Secretary Jack Straw.

A series of draft figures for recruitment targets across the country was announced at a conference yesterday.

The county's constabulary has been handed one of the toughest targets in the country as part of the move to increase the number of ethnic minority officers.

The announcement came at a Home Office conference held in Southampton and attended by forces from across the country. Most forces have been set a 10 year target directly linked to its ethnic minority population.

Lancashire police has long recognised it has a problem attracting black and Asian officers.

The problem is particularly acute in East Lancashire, where there is a high concentration of Asian people but few ethnic minority officers.

And a pilot scheme is set to be launched in Blackburn for encouraging more Asian people into becoming police officers.

According to the official figures, the county has just 39 ethnic minority officers out of a force of 3,245 officers. But five per cent of the county's population belong to an ethnic minority.

For the police force to reflect the local population the number of black and Asian officers would have to be increased to 123.

Every force in the country has been sent a Home Office circular and a set of recruitment rules will be drawn up.

The circular reads: "Every force needs to work towards a goal whereby their force reflects the ethnic diversity of the local community it serves.

"Whilst it is important to move forward decisively to achieve these targets, it is essential that recruitment standards are maintained."

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