DORSET Police is on course to meet its savings target of £23.2 million by March next year.

The force has received a rating of Good from government inspectors checking on its progress.

In October 2010, the government announced that central funding to police forces in England and Wales should be cut by a fifth.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has recently checked on all forces to make sure they are on course to hit their targets.

Cuts in Dorset have required a 19 per cent reduction in officers and a 20 per cent cut in the total workforce.

HMIC said it will be difficult for the force to continue to make cuts after next year and has encouraged closer links with other forces and organisations.