SCORES of new bobbies will soon be patrolling crime hotspots across East Lancashire thanks to extra funding from the Home Office.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw announced in the House of Commons that Lancashire is to get 126 new police officers over the next three years.

And most of the extra officers are already earmarked for schemes designed to cut crime in Blackburn and Burnley.

Chief Constable Pauline Clare is keen to improve relations and strengthen links with Blackburn's Asian community.

Lancashire bid for an extra 152 officers but has still done much better compared to other forces in the North West.

The allocation was based on how efficient and cost-effective forces have been in recent years.

Mr Straw says the money will allow forces to take on an extra 5,000 police nationwide over the next three years at a cost of £35million. Greater Manchester was hoping for more than 1,000 new officers but will have to settle for 378.

Mr Straw said: "I am determined to support the police in the fight against crime and disorder.

"The Crime Fighting Fund will drive forward recruitment programmes, supporting forces in their efforts to attract new officers."

"Police numbers have been in decline since the early 1990s and I have listened to the concerns of chief officers and taken action to stem this decline.

"But effective policing is not solely about numbers of officers, it is also about how best to use police time and the technology, assets and skills available."

David Brindle, Lancashire police head of corporate services, said: "This is excellent news.

"We have already identified a number of initiatives around the county where extra officers will make a real difference in dealing with crime and other operational policing issues.

"This should help us to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and death and injury on our roads."

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