MP, Shadow Home Secretary,
said:
"The warning lights are flashing across our police force, and
today, Labour have failed to stump up the funding needed to stop
massive cuts to frontline services.
"Our police services now face a £118 million shortfall, which
puts over 1800 police jobs at risk.
"Law and Order has taken a backseat to Trade Union handouts under
this Government, today's funding settlement proves that beyond
doubt. The only winners here are the criminals who can operate
with increasing impunity as our police are left with huge funding
shortfalls.
"Make no mistake, this is a crisis of Labours making - Labour
have forced huge cuts onto our police, and left the public to
live with the consequences of their unwillingness to tackle crime
anywhere in this country.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Extra costs for 25/26 are:
·
£326m extra for pay relating to 2.25 per cent of 4.75 per
cent pay rise in Sept 2024 not covered by the previous SR
·
Pay progression / pay increment pressures as officers get
more seniority = £354m [£8m in Essex and Essex is 2.26 per cent
of policing so 8/2.26 per cent = £354m]
·
Allow £170m for a 2.5 per cent pay rise in Sept 2025 for
the latter 7 months of the financial year (could be more) [2.5
per cent x £11.5b x 7 / 12]
·
Allow £125m for 2.5 per cent general inflation in non-staff
costs [2.5 per cent x £5b non-pay spend; actual non-pay inflation
running at 5.3 per cent so building in 2.8 per cent efficiency
gains]
·
£230m extra for national insurance
Total extra costs for 25/26 = £1,205m
Extra funding for 25/26 is:
·
Extra govt funds: £527m (including the extra £200 million
for neighbourhood policing)
·
Extra NI money: £230m
·
Extra precept money: £330m
Total: £1,087m extra (UK Parliament, Provisional
Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2025-26, 30
January 2024, link).
As a result, there is a shortfall of
£118 million. This results in 1873 officers, at
£63,000 per officer (Home Office, Policy Paper, 5 March
2024, link).
-
Only 3,000 of the 13,000 neighbourhood police officers
are extra new police officers. It was reported that
the Home Office has requested funding for the recruitment of
3,000 fully warranted officers, 4,000 police community support
officers and training and expenses for 3,000 additional special
constables, who are unpaid volunteers. An additional 3,000
officers will be diverted from the existing workforce to make
up the new neighbourhood policing programme (The
Times, 2 December 2024, link).
-
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that he faces
having to cut 2,300 officers as a result of funding
cuts. Rowley said the Met Police force will be
‘scaling back our ability to tackle serious violence and
organised crime' under plans to cut 2,300 officers and 400
staff due to a £450m budget ‘black hole' (The Daily
Mail, 14 November 2024, link; The Daily
Mail, 10 December 2024, link).
-
The Conservative Government boosted police funding to
over £18 billion, giving them the resources they need to make
the streets safer. Police funding is £18.4 billion for
2024-25, representing 30.7 per cent cash terms increase
compared to 2019-20, keeping communities safe (Home
Office, Press Release, 14 December 2023, link).
