LANCASHIRE’S most senior police officers have turned down bonuses totalling £58,000.

Last year, Chief Constable Steve Finnigan was criticised after he received 15 per cent of his annual £142,600 salary as a cash reward, in the height of a recession.

It meant that Mr Finnigan, with a bonus of £21,277 and a rent allowance of £7,075, took home just over £171,000 last year.

But amidst a climate of cost-cutting reviews, recruitment freeze and the government taking £3m out of Lancashire’s policing budget, Mr Finnigan has opted to waive his bonus this year.

Deputy Chief Constable Chris Weigh, on around £118,000, Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Walker on an estimated £100,600 and Director of Resources David Brindle, on £100,600, have also declined to pursue between 10 and 15 per cent bonuses.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Cooke and temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Rhodes were not eligible.

Any bonus would have to be sanctioned by a Lancashire Police Authority ‘pay award committee’, which last year agreed to the maximum payment of almost £60,000.

Authority chairman, Coun Malcolm Doherty said: “The Chief Constable spoke to me in light of the way things are at the moment and the hard messages we are giving out.

"He thought it would be very, very counter-productive of him to take a bonus.

“It is simply realising that as we go into a difficult time, they would get a lot of criticism and their view is they don’t want to get the bonus this time.

“It shows a good, team attitude and they are all aware of the issue coming up of resources over the next couple of years.

"It sets a good example and the right tone.”