POLICE forces in the region are failing to sack lazy and incompetent officers, the Liberal Democrats claimed yesterday.

The party seized on figures suggesting just 14 officers have been dismissed anywhere in Britain over the past ten years on the grounds of “incapability”.

Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, described such a low figure as “unbelievable”, adding: “It’s the police culture of dog doesn’t eat dog and don’t complain about colleagues.

“The vast majority of police officers are diligent, dedicated and hard-working, so it is unfair on them if lazy and incompetent colleagues are allowed a free ride.

“There is nothing more demoralising for a young and ambitious officer than working for a boss who has run out of puff and lacks motivation.”

Cheshire force has not sacked any officer for incapability in the last decade, according to figures the force supplied in reply to a freedom of information request.

No figure was available for Merseyside.

Mr Huhne said the force had failed to reply to his FoI request, but Merseyside insisted none had been received.

Regardless, the Lib Dem spokesman vowed to reform police working practices to make it easier to fire officers who cannot do their job.

Mr Huhne added: “I can’t think of any other body, in the public or private sector, where so few people would be dismissed for incapability over such a long period.”

A Merseyside police spokeswoman said it was unable to say whether any officers had been dismissed on the grounds of incompetence without an FoI request.

DELEGATES backed the leadership’s plans for 200mph high-speed rail lines linking the North to London, to boost the economy and tackle overcrowding.

An £11bn line from the capital to Manchester and Leeds, with extensions to Newcastle, Edinburgh – and possibly Liverpool – would be funded by ‘pay-as-you-drive’ charges for lorries and a surcharge on domestic air flights.