Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has claimed that communities could be left at risk by further “savage” cuts to police budgets.

Police Commissioner Clive Grunshaw says Lancashire is expected to be one of the worst hit forces in the Government’s funding review, with extra cuts of £24.8 million on top of £74 million already imposed.

The Police Commissioner claimed the Constrabulary was being “singled out” and could be the worst affected in the country following announcements from policing minister Mike Penning.

He said: “While the full implications are not yet clear there is no doubt that these savage cuts, which come on top of the already significant savings which have had to be made, will have a devastating impact on the standards of policing which the Constabulary is able to deliver and which our communities have come to expect.

“This clarification from the policing minister Mike Penning makes it clear that the likely outcome for Lancashire is far worse than we had expected, in fact it looks as if we will be the worst affected force in the country.”

He added: “Lancashire has been repeatedly praised as being an outstanding and efficient force in recent inspections by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and this feels as though we are being singled out and punished for our success.

“I am demanding an explanation from the Government to explain why this is the proposal.”

Full details of the spending review to be delivered are expected to be announced on November 25, when the government will reveal how it plans to deliver the remaining £20 billion of savings needed.

However, former Hyndburn Conservative group leader urged caution over the local figures.

He said: “We always get these forecasts of doom and gloom and the reality is nowhere near as bad as we thought.

“I urge a little caution when dealing with these figures.”

For more information visit www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk