Lincolnshire Police faces 'uncertain future', watchdog finds

The report states Lincolnshire Police has done what can reasonably be expected to be as efficient as possible

Police services in Lincolnshire could suffer if further reductions are made to the workforce, the police watchdog has warned.

In its latest report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) assessed the force as being "good" in terms of overall efficiency.

But, it said, the force has already done what can "reasonably be expected" in terms of efficiency savings.

Lincolnshire Police welcomed the findings.

The HMIC report said: "The force provides a good policing service to the communities of Lincolnshire at one of the lowest costs per head of population in England and Wales.

"As a low cost force... there are very few opportunities available for making further efficiency savings.

"HMIC considers that the force has done what can reasonably be expected to be as efficient as possible, and yet it still faces an uncertain financial future due to its low funding base."

The report warned "it is likely that there will be service loss or degradation of policing services in Lincolnshire if further reductions are made to the workforce".

'Edge of viability'

Lincolnshire Police said it plans to discuss the report's findings in more depth with policing minister Brandon Lewis when he visits in December.

In 2014, Chief Constable Neil Rhodes warned the force - which covers the third-largest policing area in the country - faced being "unviable" in three years.

Mr Rhodes said Lincolnshire Police would be "on the edge of viability" in 2016/17, and "unsustainable" the following year.

The position was set to be addressed last year with a proposed change to the funding formula.

However, no changes were forthcoming after the Home Office acknowledged its plans had been based on flawed calculations.

The amount of money each police force receives from the government is based on a funding formula, which assesses population size, social and economic factors, crime rates and other data.

Mr Lewis said the Police Transformation Fund provides PCCs with a "once in a generation opportunity" to transform policing.

He said it would enable forces to tackle cyber crime, and develop new and efficient ways of working.

He added: ""We welcome HMIC's work in this area, which provides transparency for the public, and vital information for PCCs and chief constables.

"The 2015 Spending Review settlement provides the opportunity for PCCs and chief constables to invest in further policing transformation while redoubling efforts to drive out inefficiencies so that resources can be targeted for greatest impact."