The force wants to recruit 3,500 officers by 2007

Chief Constable Maria Wallis and members of the police authority are travelling to Westminster on Wednesday to lobby MPs for more money.

They are calling for an increase of 5.5%, rather than the 3% expected to be awarded by the Home Office.

Extra cash is needed to pay for pensions and new technology, they say.

Police authority chair Jill Owen said the shortfalls in central funding could no longer be made up with council tax increases.

The people have told us the last thing they want is a reduction in front line policing Chief Constable Maria Wallis

"We cannot continue to do this, because the public are getting fed up of rising council tax and the government are threatening to cap increases," she said.

"This means that without at least a 5.5% increase in funding from the government, cuts in police services may have to be considered."

The police representatives will meet personally with local MPs to set out how the funding crisis could hit the force's services.

Mrs Wallis said: "We are currently on course to meet our commitment to have 3,500 officers in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 2007.