WORCESTER MP Mike Foster was today due to urge Ministers to tackle the "Bermuda Triangle" in which West Mercia Constabulary is losing cash.

Central Government funding must increase if the force is to maintain standards without raising the police precept above inflation, Mr Foster was due to tell a debate in Westminster Hall.

Mr Foster was due to defend West Mercia's spending as among the lowest in the country but admit the above-average precept levied by the force is "unfavourable".

But he will blame the need for a high precept on the third variable in the force's budget - the shortage of Government funding.

West Mercia's Government grant is £92.24 per head, compared to a national average of £138.11.

Mr Foster was due to say: "Having established that it is not a high spending police authority, why is it necessary to be a relatively high precept-levying authority?

"The answer lies in the third part of the funding triangle - in West Mercia's case the Bermuda Triangle, as things go missing - Government grant per head of population."

West Mercia's funding difficulties will come to a head next year when the 2004/5 budget of £165.8m will need to rise by £8.9m to meet increased pay and inflation and pensions commitments.

If the police grant rises by just three per cent, Mr Foster calculates the force will need to hike its precept by 9.8 per cent, taking a Band D bill to £151.14.

But the force is under pressure from the Government to keep the burden on council taxpayers to a minimum.

However, Mr Foster was due to say that raising West Mercia's Government grant to the national average per head of population would cover next year's budget requirement without a substantial precept rise.

Mr Foster was due to ask for four main assurances from the Government which will help West Mercia achieve its aims:

n That the Government will look favourably on West Mercia's bid for 40 extra community support officers.

n That the funding formula, which determines Government funding for each force, is re-evaluated in light of West Mercia's experience.

n That the Government maintains its rural sparsity grant, which currently brings £2.3m to West Mercia.

n That police pensions, which are eating up more of the force's budget each year, are nationalised and dealt with by central Government.

"It is not all doom and gloom in West Mercia - far from it," Mr Foster will say.

"Crime is falling, police numbers are at record levels, CSOs are patrolling our streets helping tackle anti-social behaviour.

"Divisions such as South Worcester are at the forefront of best practice in combating anti-social behaviour. There is a real sense of ambition to press ahead to meet even greater challenges and further improve performance.

"But in the background there are the financial constraints I have described - we all are looking for the Minister to use whatever influence they can to help West Mercia achieve even more."