THE outgoing Lancashire Chief Constable’s warning that ‘cracks are appearing in policing’ has been supported by Burnley MP Julie Cooper.

The Labour front-bencher has supported Steve Finnigan’s concerns that the loss of 800 officers and 400 other staff in seven years was compromising the safety of county people.

Mrs Cooper said: “The cuts to our policing are nothing short of a disgrace and yet another example of a government prepared to sacrifice services and safety on the altar of their obsession with ‘austerity’.

“How much longer must experienced and dedicated professionals go on saying the same thing to a government which is simply refusing to listen.

“The facts are Lancashire Constabulary has seen its £301m budget fall by £75m since 2010, this represents a cut of 25 per cent.

“When the most senior police officers are warning that forces are stretched to their limits and beyond, we have the absolute right to demand that the government take immediate and lasting steps to keep us all safe.

“Simply shuttling police officers around the country from appalling incident to appalling incident, is crisis management, but what about prevention, that comes from neighbourhood policing and intelligence gathering in communities?”