POLICE chiefs in Lancashire have managed to find £14million of savings needed for the next year.

Lancashire Constabulary’s budget of £288million for 2011/12 was approved at the full Lancashire Police Authority meeting today and members were told the focus was now on 2012/13.

Incoming resources director Ian Cosh said £19million of the £42million funding gap over the next four years, caused by the reduction in Home Office money, had been identified.

He said this was largely down to the ‘well advanced’ 49 organisational reviews to restructure and reduce posts across the constabulary, which has already identified £10.5m of savings.

According to a breakdown of the organisational reviews, amongst the worst hit departments are scientific support (-£817,000), intelligence (-£793,000), crime management unit (-£740,000), covert policing (-£635,000), custody (-£579,000) and the Force Major Investigation Team (-£507,000).

Some organisational reviews are into their second phase after the government’s sweeping cuts sent divisional commanders back to the drawing board.

Others, such as key frontline areas like response and neighbourhood policing, are not yet finished.

Members praised the budget and the force for ‘being ahead of the game’, but concerns were also raised.

Coun Niki Penney said: “We are not able to plan because we are right down to the bone. We cannot put something in the back pocket.”

Lancashire now has to find a further £14.6m for 2012/13 budget, a further £5.5m for 2013/14 and another £7.8m for 2014/15.

The committee also voted to freeze their council tax precept.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: “This is a really well constructed budget, but I don’t underestimate the challenge of finding £42m, it’s not going to be easy.”