Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has reacted angrily following the government announcement that police are to receive a 2.5% pay rise.

He told QLocal yesterday: "While it's welcome news that the government has announced a pay rise for hard working police officers, once again it is down to local forces to foot the bill following a 'smoke and mirrors' government announcement.

"As always with the Home Office, the devil is in the detail.

"It is disappointing that the government will seek to fund this pay rise and associated costs through existing budgets, which means that Lancashire Constabulary will have to find even more money out of it's already stretched budget so that the government can keep its promises. It is estimated that this 2.5% increase will cost around £6.8m, which will have to be found by making savings elsewhere.

"The announcement today is also likely to have an impact on the affordability of any increase in officer numbers. If we are to deliver the uplift target of additional officers, we have to maintain the current level of staff. To maintain the current level of staff the cost of pay increases must be met.

"Without government funding to meet these costs, it will be extremely difficult to deliver the required uplift in officer numbers. Lancashire has the ambition and capability to deliver these officers, but this ambition needs to be matched by the government funding.

"Lancashire needs a fair deal for police funding. For the government announce a pay rise without adequate funding shows how the government will happily give with one hand whilst taking with the other. The Home Secretary must reconsider her stance and her failure to properly fund the police in Lancashire.