THE POLICE and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley has said that funding announcements fall short of the force’s needs.
The Home Secretary announced that police across England and Wales will be given a £1bn boost as the it takes action to “restore” neighbourhood policing.
She explained that the majority of this funding will be given to Police and Crime Commissioners, constituting up to £17.4 billion and an increase of up to £987 million compared to last year.
Part of the government’s Plan for Change, this will take total funding up to £19.5 billion for next year, equating to a cash increase of up to 6.0% and a real terms increase of 3.5%.
Matthew Barber has explained, however, that while the funding settlement announced by the government saw an increase in funding, it would not adequately meet requirements to maintain current levels of policing.
In a statement released on Wednesday, December 18, Mr Barber said: “I am pleased to see that the Home Office listened to my, and other PCC colleagues, concerns over Employer National Insurance contributions, however they have still not provided adequate funding to cover the police pay rise announced earlier this year.
“Along with other forces, an increase in Council Tax will be needed to keep the lights on–a third of the national £1bn increase announced by the Policing Minister is in fact expected to be funded by local council taxpayers.”
He explained: “As a result, despite rhetoric about a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee from the Home Office, we may end up seeing a fall in overall police officer numbers at a time when I want to be protecting and investing in the frontline.
“We have already doubled the number of neighbourhood officers in the Thames Valley, and I am pleased to say that in the last year crime has continued to fall.
“It goes without saying however that I want to see continued improvements in policing and reductions in crime for our communities and this can only be achieved if the police receive proper funding and investment.”
He also explained that he would be working through the financial implications of the announcement with the Chief Constable, Jason Hogg, over the coming weeks.
