DORSET Police ‘requires improvement’ when it comes to finance and workforce, a report out today states.

The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) suggests that better planning is needed if the force is to cope with further cuts to its budget by central government.

It also raises concerns that Dorset Police does not have enough money left in reserve.

But in a response to the report, Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said: "Dorset Police has demonstrated an impeccable track record of financial management over many years, maintaining our reserves within professional guidelines. These reserves have been fully audited and endorsed by qualified external experts.

“Instead of holding large reserves, the Force has remained debt free and has also settled local government pension deficits. Many other forces have much larger reserves, but this is often coupled with higher debt and an unpaid pension liability.”

He added: “I would reassure local people that we have risen to financial challenges in the past. We also already have significant pieces of work underway to understand the policing demands of the future and to plan our work to meet these demands based on the likely budget we will have.”

In a statement, Dorset Police said they were disappointed at the assessment and that it reflects the ‘stark consequences’ of funding cuts on a small force.

Further cuts to policing budgets by central government are expected to be part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in late November.

The HMIC report did find that Dorset Police is carrying out practice at a ‘good’ level in other areas.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said that the number of frontline officers has increased, despite the budget cuts.

He added:  “For anyone who may be worried that potential reductions in staff are “scaremongering”, this report provides the clarity that is the unfortunate reality.  Eighty percent of the police budget is spent on our workforce and if you are facing cut upon cut, that inevitably means we will lose more staff.  We are already facing the need to reduce the workforce by 140 police officers and 134 staff in the medium term and HMIC is suggesting that is not enough.”