DETECTIVES from Lancashire are being sent to a Caribbean island to investigate gang-related murders.

After a rise in killings, four of the county’s specialised officers are being sent to the Cayman Islands to advise local police.

The detective inspector and three detective constables are based in the county force’s major incident team.

But the decision has been criticised by Lancashire-based taxpayers’ group Is It Fair because the force is having to make large budget cuts.

On Sunday it was revealed that a 20-strong detachment from five North West police forces were travelling to the paradise island for a six-week deployment.

Merseyside Police officers were pictured snorkling and sunbathing on Grand Canyon island.

The island’s police commissioner David Baines, who is from Preston, has asked for help following a run of five gangland murders in nine days.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police (ACPO) said: “Chief Constable Jon Murphy, the ACPO lead on crime, is working with the Cayman Islands police and will be providing support to their ongoing investigations in the form of a team of detectives from the North West of England.”

John O’Reilly, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said: “Officers from Lancashire have gone over to assist with inquiries as the Cayman Islands is part of the Commonwealth and we are obliged to assist with major incidents.

"It is a handful of selected officers who are specialists at what they do.

“We won’t leave ourselves short in any way. This hasn’t even come on to the federation’s radar as an issue at all.

"We will have appropriate cover in place.”

A Lancashire police spokesman said: “Lancashire Constabulary was approached as part of a UK policing response and felt it appropriate to offer limited resources to assist in the investigation.”