THE number of police officers for Dorset could be cut back by up to 100 unless the government can be persuaded to cough up more cash.

The force is facing a funding crisis with early indications suggesting its next budget will increase by just three per cent.

But senior police officers say they need a 5.7 per cent rise just to maintain current standards.

They are travelling to London today to put their case to MPs.

Dorset Police have received one of the lowest funding settlements in the country for the last two years.

This has led to them having to claw back cash by increasing their share of the council tax bill.

The government is threatening to cap any authority demanding too much of the council tax payer, therefore making it impossible for the police authority to get the cash it needs.

Clerk to the police authority, Peter Harvey, said 80 per cent of the police budget is swallowed up with manpower costs. Therefore, the inevitable effect of cuts would be a reduction in officer numbers, he said.

"Central funding has fallen short of what we need in previous years but we have been able to make up the difference from local council tax," said Mr Harvey. "We can't continue to do this because the public are getting fed up with rising council tax and the government is threatening to cap increases.

"This means that without at least 5.5 per cent funding from the government, cuts in police services may have to be made."

News of possible cuts in police numbers was met with dismay by Deirdre Redstone, co-ordinator of the North Bournemouth Crime Prevention Panel.

"There needs to be more police officers on the beat, not less," said Mrs Redstone, whose organisation aims to protect the elderly and vulnerable.

"Older people like to see police on the beat in uniform. It makes them feel safer and that is very important."

Deputy Chief Constable Chris Lee and representatives from the authority were due to meet MPs Oliver Letwin, John Butterfill, Christopher Chope, Annette Brooke and Jim Knight to set out how the funding crisis could hit services in Dorset.

Mr Chope said: "My main concern is that Dorset does not get a fair share of the overall police budget. A lot of resources are wasted in bureaucracy and paperwork, but I want to see more officers on the beat."

Around 100 MPs are involved in similar meetings with representatives from police authorities all over England and Wales.

First published: Oct 20