Members the authority were invited to the House of Commons by North East Derbyshire MP Harry Barnes to discuss constraints on the force's budget.

Funds for 2005-2006 will be increased by 3.75%, from �101.2m to �104.9m, but senior officers say they were hoping for a 5% increase.

They say the shortfall would mean tough choices in deciding priorities.

Police authority chairman Jo Thornton said: "We'll have to make efficiency savings from support staff."

Derby City Council is to get an increase of 6.9%, equivalent to over �13m, and the county council will get an extra 5.8%, totalling over �476m.