Chiefs at Norfolk police have finally been granted a meeting with ministers to challenge them over the threat to take control of the force's budget.

Chiefs at Norfolk police have finally been granted a meeting with ministers to challenge them over the threat to take control of the force's budget.

Police authority chairman Stephen Bett, chief executive Chris Harding and deputy chief constable Ian Learmonth will travel to Whitehall to meet Department of Communities and Local Government minister John Healey and Home Office minister Tony McNulty.

The government has named Norfolk as one of seven police forces nationally whose spending could be “capped” after it set its budget at £138m - an increase of 5.3pc on last year and 0.3pc above what ministers say is acceptable. This also led to an 8.3pc rise in its share of council tax.

Officials in the county immediately requested a meeting to urge a rethink but have only this week been granted their request and the meeting will take place on May 12.

The force remains convinced that, had the government not withdrawn a £900,000 grant to provide anti-terrorism policing at Bacton, its budget would have fallen within the threshold.