POLICE will not be given targets to reduce crime as the reality of £42m cuts starts to take effect.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said ‘sustainability might be the success’ over the next four years as the force continues to make millions of pounds of savings each year.

Speaking to the Lancashire Police Authority committee, Mr Finnigan said that he had sent out a memo to inspectors and sergeants this week calling for ‘optimism and pride going forward’.

He said: “We will be realistic with our expectations. I won’t be asking divisional commanders for double digits, but gradual and realistic reductions.”

Mr Finnigan spoke of a ‘culture change’ to embrace restorative justice and community resolution which would impact on the force’s current 37.4 per cent detection rate.

“Given the issues, sustainability might look like success.

“I am giving nobody a green light to switch off - and that is not in the DNA of this organisation. There has to be still a good level of ambition and aspiration.”

The chief has been holding ‘roadshows’ across the force to get the policing plan message across that reductions in serious crime categories rather than specific targets will be the focus.

During the next two months he will be holding question and answer sessions with all staff to get ‘a sense of morale’.

He added: “I want to make sure people understand we are confident we can navigate our way through the next four years.”

Labour County Coun Niki Penney said: “We are not able to plan because we are right down to the bone.

"We must keep a weather eye open for trends. We cannot put something in the back pocket like mum used to do for the war.”

Independent authority member for Pennine Shazad Sarwar said: “The chief constable is right that sustainability might be the success.”

Greater Manchester Police Federation has already warned that the impact of the budget cuts could lead to crime rising in the long term.

In Kent, Chief Constable Ian Learmonth, said: “Clearly there is a potential impact that crime will rise.”