"Of the required 17,500 inspectors the state has only 7,500," Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan told the state Assembly.
He blamed a court stay on promotions behind the acute staff crunch.
Azam said the government wanted to segregate investigation and law and order by posting separate officials but it is not possible in the present scenario.
The minister, while presenting the budget of general administration and home departments said the government has planned to provide adequate transport facilities and better weapons at all key police stations and chowkis.
"We have taken Meerut as a model district where separate set of officials would look after law and order and investigation to give it momentum," Azam said.
Accusing BSP of booking innocent people in criminal cases during its tenure, he claimed there was something "seriously" wrong with the previous government that led to the change in political equations of the state.
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Azam also mentioned the criminal cases involving BSP ministers and MLAs, and said justice in this regard was yet to be delivered.
"Wherever crime would come to light it would be found to be having your imprint...I have already pointed out at massive irregularities in funds meant for constructing toilets," he said, pointing towards the BSP benches.
The minister also took a jibe at former chief minister Mayawati for her alleged fund-raising and costly birthday celebrations in a "poor" state like UP.
Azam also ridiculed Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya's claim that state's crime graph was on the rise.
Maurya had earlier said although Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's intentions in holding crime in the state appeared to be clear with his initial firm steps, he seemed to be under some compulsion because of which he is not able to check the goonda elements.
The House later passed the budget by a voice vote.