Around 70 privately contracted security workers have been hired by Lancashire Police to carry out officer roles.

The G45 workers work as detention officers at custody suites across the county.

The care of detainees is ultimately the responsibility of chief constables however concerns have been raised nationally about the accountability of the private officers, because they cannot be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A spokesman said: “There are some functions within the custody suites that do not need to be carried out by police officers and outsourcing some of those functions provides better value for money and allows us to make savings. Outsourcing the custody work has also put 64 police officers back on the front line."