PCC issues open letter regarding the budget for policing

Dear West Mercia residents,

Whilst I’m currently seeking your views on the amount of money you would be willing to pay for policing; I wanted to bring you up to speed on the latest developments.

On 18th December, the Government set out the amount of money it would be giving to policing. Following the announcement, it left a number of police forces – including West Mercia – with a great amount of concern and uncertainty. I expressed, at the time, that very little detail was given, and it is unclear when the full details will be shared. The longer we go without this, the harder it is to plan and deliver a policing service that the public expect.

What we do know is that the core Government grant funding for policing in West Mercia will increase by £5.1 million (to £174.8m) next year, but the cost of maintaining our police officer establishment has increased by £19 million (to £178.6m). This is while the Government is mandating how many police officers West Mercia has and, ever more, the roles they perform. The Government also sets the amount that police officers are paid. 

Whilst there is an increase in central funding of 2.8%, the precept for policing is likely to increase by 5.2%. Funding for policing has always been a combination of local and national funding; however, it should be about balance with local taxpayers not carrying the burden. This is clearly not a fair balance, with the Government needing to match the amount that you, as taxpayers, are having to put into the policing service. Particularly when demand is being driven by national policy.  

The Government knows that police forces, across the country, are struggling financially and will be aware of recent concerns about how they will be able to deliver policing for their communities.

Rather than committing all resources the Government has available to policing, it appears that they have chosen to keep some of the allocations for central purposes. In an attempt to respond to the financial pressure, they have afforded PCCs the opportunity to submit a case to increase the precept even further – choosing to, again, place the weight of the problem on the local taxpayer. Whilst little guidance has been given, it is suggested that it will be limited and will only be agreed in exceptional circumstances. Therefore, potentially not even being a solution to the problem that policing in West Mercia is facing.

I have made the decision that I am not willing to pass the burden onto the public when this is a problem born out of a shortfall in central funding. I am already having to ask taxpayers to pay more, and I know increases will also come from local authorities. Since 2016, there has been a 54% increase in the amount the public are paying for policing. Enough is enough.

I will continue working with the Chief Constable to ensure that the force can deliver the best possible service for the public, whilst not over-burdening the taxpayer, however an impact is unavoidable.

I am therefore calling on the Government to be fairer with their resources and, at the very least, match the extra amount the local taxpayers are being asked to pay, enabling basic services to be delivered to avoid further tough decisions needing to be made.

You can view the draft budget report here and have your say in the consultation here.