MANY people may find it hard to understand how forced cuts in Lancashire Constabulary's overtime bill can be achieved without a risky knock-on reduction in policing.

Indeed, the government-ordered chop - slashing current overtime spending from more than £8million a year to just over £5million - has already been dubbed a potential "robbers' charter" by one East Lancashire MP.

But perhaps this is a too-simplistic outlook. For we find a cautious welcome for the move from the Lancashire Police Federation representing the rank and file - if it brings more efficient use of resources and fewer "unreasonable" demands on officers.

And, of course, taxpayers, currently being asked to pay nearly 19 per cent more for policing in Lancashire, have a right to expect the police to operate within their budget.

Even so, it may be that prudence and good management of the force's resources may not be enough to prevent a reduction in performance. For we find a police report warning already that it will be difficult to meet the overtime bill target without such an effect.

The yardstick, then, must be crime levels. If they worsen because reduced overtime working brings weaker policing, then the government must promptly revise the targets. The real solution, surely, is more police officers rather than existing numbers having to work hours and hours of overtime.