Cumbria Police to recruit 75 new officers

Cumbria Police has announced it is to recruit 75 new police officers despite facing more than £20m of budget cuts.

Numbers in the force have already fallen from 1,230 to 1,150, with the savings to be made by 2016.

The force said the budget allowed police officer numbers to remain the same for two years, but there could be a loss of 64 officer posts by 2017.

A spokesman for the force said the new posts would maintain officer numbers and replace those who have retired.

The new recruits, who will be employed by March next year, will help deliver community policing and support officers on the front line, the force said.