LANCASHIRE Police chiefs have defended their decision to hire 50 new officers at the same time as a dozen police stations are to close.

The force has said it will cut 800 police officer and staff posts as part of its four-year plan to meet 20 per cent budget cuts by 2014/15.

And they has just finalised plans to shut the front counters and sell off several police stations in Lancashire and reduce the opening times at others.

Yet the constabulary is currently recruiting ‘internally’ for 50 new officers.

Applications are being taken from people who are already a member of police staff, PCSO or part of the Special Constabulary.

They have had 500 applications. The police has had a recruitment freeze in place for more than two years.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: “Because the Constabulary started work early in identifying savings and stopped the recruitment of new officers in September 2009, there is sufficient fund-ing accrued as officers have continued to leave the organisation, lby natural wastage, to allow us to recruit 50 police officers earlier than planned.

“Next year will be an extraordinary year for policing in general, and local resources will be required to assist with national and events, such as the Olympic Games, the Jubilee and events during the European Football Championships.

“The decision to only recruit from our own staff at this time was made because there are significant time savings to be made reducing the overall process from 34 weeks to 20 weeks.

“This will ensure we have fully trained and deployable police officers available to us when they are needed.

“Many will already have undergone some form of operational training in their current roles.

"Their recruitment clearly demonstrates that whilst we need to continue to make very big savings, we are committed to investing in front line policing.”