CUMBRIA'S crime commissioner has told the government he is disappointed cash was not provided for a police bonus, revealing the payout is set to bust the county's crime-fighting budget.

Peter McCall says he has taken his concerns to the police minister, Nick Hurd, after confirming it was a factor in a predicted overspend.

Other issues set to lead to the county force going beyond its means include higher than predicted officer numbers.

The armed patrols deployed due to the national terror attacks have also put extra financial pressure on Cumbria police.

Mr McCall said it was anticipated the overall budget position for crimefighting - including his office and the force - would show an overspend of £925,000 by the end of the current financial year.

The total budget was set to be £112.3m.

The majority of the overspend comes from Cumbria police, following the factors he outlined.

The government in September announced a pay rise for police which breached the one per cent public sector pay cap.

Police will get a one per cent pay rise plus a one per cent bonus for the year.

Mr McCall said: "I welcome the pay award.

"This rightly reflects the hard work and dedication that our officers and staff do on a daily basis."

But he added: "We had budgeted for the one per cent pay increase but not the one per cent bonus.

"I am disappointed that funding for the bonus has not been provided centrally by the government.

"I have expressed this disappointment directly to the policing minister, Nick Hurd, when I met with him recently."

Mr McCall said efforts were now under way to sort the situation alongside the chief constable, Jerry Graham.

"I am working with the chief constable to find a way forward to manage the situation," he added.

"We are effectively halfway through the budget year and we will be looking at pro-actively reducing the overspend as much as possible.

"However, we have to be realistic and I am determined to maintain our policing presence in the county - and will consider all contingencies to deliver this."

Where some of the cash went

The extra cash for the armed patrols came in the form of additional overtime.

Reassurance operations carried out on high streets and at major events pushed up the bills, prompting an overspend.

Officers with guns were seen at a number of high-profile events in the county, particularly over the summer.

At Carlisle, these included the Cumberland Show, Race for Life and a number of pop concerts.

Armed officers were also seen at Appleby Horse Fair and Cartmel Races - as well as on the streets of places including Barrow town centre.

Ch Con Graham - the county's top officer - warned in the summer that there was no end to the terror threat in sight.

He said people should get used to armed officers on the county's streets.

The view from the police frontline

The man heading Cumbria's main police union said in September that cash demands meant forces may have to choose between officer numbers and public safety.

Martin Plummer, chairman of the county's police federation, said police were angry and constabulary chiefs had been put "in an impossible situation" over the pay award.

Mr Plummer backed concerns expressed by the countrywide police federation.

He said: "Our members are angry and forces have been put in an impossible situation.

"We feel the government has not been truthful and honest about the pay award given to officers and that is insulting.

"The two per cent awarded has to come from existing policing budgets, which means forces may have to choose between officer numbers and public safety.

"That cannot be right."

The government response

A Home Office spokesman said: "This government has protected overall police spending in real terms since the 2015 Spending Review.

"In March 2017, Cumbria police had reserves of £24.3m.

"We recognise, however, that demand on the police is changing and we are very sensitive to the pressure they are under.

"That is why we are reviewing demand and resilience, as well as police plans for greater efficiency and prudent use of over £1.6bn of reserves.

"As part of this process the policing minister has spoken to police leaders from every force in England and Wales."