The county force made its claim after the Government threatened to cap the authority's hike in its share of council tax by 78.9 per cent to plug a shortfall in what it insisted it needed to make up for years of under funding.


As a result of the hike the police element of council tax bills went by £103.77 at Band D and between £69.18 and £92.24 a year for most homes in Bands A to C 8 - causing around an 8 per cent increase in the total bill.


The Government still has to make a final decision and could leave Lincolnshire Police Authority having to cut back drastically while also having to spend £500,000 in re-billing residents.


Lincolnshire Police received the lowest grant per head in the country and has the lowest number of officers per head in the country, covering the third largest policing area in the country.


Angela Crowe, chairman of the Police Authority, said: "We have clearly shown that it was impossible for us to balance the books while staying within the Government capping criteria of 5per cent."


* You can have your say on future council tax rises and many aspects of policing policy by stepping forward to join the Police Authority.


The group is looking for three new independent members - ideally women, younger people or minority groups - to join the existing nine councillors and five other independent residents, spending at least 12 hours a week on authority business.


Expertise in management, business, finance, public service, or the equalities field prefered. Interested? Call 01522558635 or go to www.lincolnshire-pa.gov.uk. Closing date noon on May 30.

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