LANCASHIRE police must solve an extra 1,533 cases this year to meet a government target.

The objective of a five per cent increase is part of a nationwide scheme to 'narrow the justice gap'.

Almost 175,000 extra cases must be solved across the country after the government and National Criminal Justice Board agreed on the target.

In Lancashire, this means that by the year to March 31, 2004, 32,183 offences must be solved by either a conviction, being taken into consideration, a caution, final warning or reprimand.

The force embarked on a review on how to do this and came up with the following techniques:

Targeting of Lancashire's 1,212 persistent offenders by solving 4,930 offences they commit

Working with other agencies to ensure that it takes a maximum of 71 days from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders

A consistent level of service across the force and the Crown Prosecution Service being involved as someone is charged

Better quality and more punctual completion of case files

All agencies involved to work together in a determined manner.