The UK government has announced a significant increase in police funding, with forces in England and Wales set to receive up to £17.4 billion in 2025-26.
Here is the rewritten text without the extraneous information:
Police Forces in England and Wales Could Get Up to £17.4bn in Funding
The government has announced that police forces in England and Wales could get up to £17.4bn in funding for 2025-26, an increase of £986.9m or 3.5% on the previous year.
However, around a third of this rise will be dependent on police and crime commissioners adding £14 to the council tax of an average band D property.
Home Office Minister Diana Johnson said that the provisional settlement “strikes the balance between protecting taxpayers and providing funding for police forces”.
Criticism from Opposition Parties
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said that the government’s National Insurance rise for employers had left police forces “facing cuts of 3,500 front-line police officers”.
The Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart said that the government should be “properly funding the officers our communities need – not passing the buck to local police chiefs to put up people’s council tax instead”.
Concerns about Police Funding Formula
Andy Cooke, chief inspector of constabulary, said that the current police funding formula was “an anachronism”. He added that one-year funding settlements made it difficult for police forces to plan ahead.
Funding Breakdown
Of the additional £986.9m going to local police forces, £657.1m is made up of an increase in government grants. The remaining £329.8m is expected to be raised by council tax increases.
Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) have the power to increase council tax by up to £14 for band D properties – and the equivalent proportional sum for other bands – without triggering a local referendum.
Concerns about Future Funding
Some police forces have questioned whether the funding boost will continue into future years. Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, has warned that 2,300 officers and 400 other staff might have to go in 2025 due to a £450m shortfall in its budget.
Paul Gibson, the chief constable in Lincolnshire, said that he would need an extra £57m over the next three and a half years to maintain current operations.
