A POLICE leader is calling on the public to join the fight to keep bobbies on the beat.

Rachel Baines, chairman of the Lancashire branch of the Police Federation, is appealing for the Government to rethink plans to cut the police budget by 20per cent after attending a conference in Bournemouth to discuss the issue.

Ms Baines said: “It was a tiring week, but a very good week.

“What we have got to do now is up our game to keep the pressure on this government who, it would appear, are not for budging.”

Under the cuts, Lancashire would lose around 550 police officer jobs, with a further 250 civilian support jobs also being slashed.

Ms Baines said: “I don’t think the public want to see fewer police on the streets.”