CHESHIRE'S top policeman has been forced to defend himself against charges that there are too many chiefs within the county constabulary.

Police authority leaders have expressed alarm at the significant increase' in management posts - and the drain on financial resources.

In particular, the authority's human resources committee has been concerned at the disproportionately high' number of managers based within the force's operations directorate.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy agreed to meet with police authority chairman Peter Nurse to discuss the worries, alongside magistrate Margaret Ollerenshaw, chairman of Macclesfield Police Forum, and David Cargill, who represents Halton.

Mr Fahy was also questioned on the management structure used by the force and the ratios of police officers by rank.

The chief constable said officer numbers in the higher ranks were no greater than in comparable forces - and were rationed out using Home Office formulas.

A number of factors had affected the management structure in recent times, he said, including legislation changes, the introduction of a new policing model, the creation of three custody suites, recruitment changes and workforce modernisation.

The number of middle managers at police headquarters, in Winsford, was also expected to drop in the coming months as part of the constabulary's ongoing civilianisation programme.

He defended the establishment of more superintendent posts, but promised efficiencies would be made wherever possible in future.

Mr Nurse stressed the needed for a robust approach, to prevent management creep'.

The authority will consider the matter in greater detail, following further investigation by members, later this month.

The majority of new additions to the force within the past few weeks have been at the rank of police community support officer - a cheaper alternative to regular constables with fewer statutory powers.