Cumbria Police pledge over budget cuts

The Cumbria force will remain committed to front line policing despite a cut in its budget, a police chief has said.

Forces in England and Wales have been told by the Home Office to make reductions totalling £125m to help tackle the national deficit.

The £1m reduction for Cumbria Police represents 1% of its budget.

Discussions are now under way to identify where cuts might be made and a report will go before Cumbria Police Authority in June.

Linda Shaw, the authority's vice chair, said: "One million pounds sounds like an awful lot of money.

"But to put it into context it is 1% of our budget, and there are many businesses and families around the county and the country having to make similar savings.

"It may well be that we look at efficiency savings, but I can't say yet because the process [of deciding where the cuts would fall] is beginning today."

She added: "The chief constable is absolutely committed to having constables out with the public and that will be protected."