Budget for policing

The budgetary responsibilities of PCCs are statutory in nature, as outlined in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. PCCs are responsible for commissioning victims' services and setting local priorities for their police force through the police and crime plan. They must also publish information necessary for the public to assess the performance of their functions and the police force's performance.

PCCs receive their funding from central government and the local precept, which is a portion of council tax allocated to policing.

They have the authority to commission policing services from the Chief Constable or other providers.

Approximately 6% of the overall West Mercia Police budget is spent by the PCC’s office. Funding is spent on the police estate, crime prevention initiatives and victim services, as well as staff within the PCC's office.

The total budget for the OPCC (excluding estates) is £12.91m in 2026/27 (reduced from £12.94m in 2025/26). In respect of core OPCC functions, total budgets this year are £8.2m (reduced by £1m from 2025/26). Governance staffing constitutes £1.9m of that figure.

The remainder of that OPCC budget is almost entirely prioritised for services for victims of crime and community prevention schemes. The PCC’s office also holds significant budget in respect of revenue contributions to capital in West Mercia.

The level of external income generated by the PCC’s office, to the benefit of communities, is £4.8m in 2026/27.

For comparison, the following percentages set out other areas within policing –

• 35% on front line policing and public contact
• 27% on investigating crime and bringing offenders to justice
• 25% on support to policing
• 8% on specialist policing teams

The Chief Constable is working with the PCC to deliver on his Safer Communities Plan. At the heart of the plan is a focus on your priorities, cutting crime, supporting victims and witnesses, policing with the community and maximising resources and value for money.

This includes a focus on:

• Ongoing focus on preventing crime and tackling offending
• Boosting visible policing with 27 police officers moving to front line services, with a focus on rural crime
• Improved response to 101 and 999 calls
• Ongoing investment in victim support services and initiatives focused on preventing crime
• Putting West Mercia Police in a financially sustainable position

Over the coming year, the PCC will continue to support and challenge the Chief Constable on progress through regular formal Assurance and Accountability sessions.

Find out more

Budget report 2026/27

Council tax leaflet for policing – 2026/27

Budget report 2025/26

Budget report 2024/25

Summary of the precept and budget for 2025/26

Summary of the precept and budget for 2024/25