Policing in England and Wales has been boosted by several years of “real terms” funding increases - but the Police Federation says “in crisis” forces are still operating on a “hand-to-mouth basis”. Home Office figures show that funding provided to police forces was consistently cut between 2010-11 and 2016-17, but has since increased every year, both nominally and in real terms.
That means the £1.5 billion package police forces across England and Wales will receive next year is nominally 31.3% higher than the £1.1bn it received in 2017-18. In order to better compare the figures, the Home Office has calculated how much the funding received five years ago would be worth at predicted 2022-23 prices.
That shows that even taking into account the rising cost of inflation, police forces will be better off than in 2017-18 - but by a more modest 14.8%. That includes an 8.8% rise in the amount forces receive directly from the government, while the precept - the police share of cash provided directly by council tax payers - will have increased by 28.5%.
Despite the real terms increase, the Police Federation of England and Wales - which represents rank and file officers - believes the way police forces are funded must change.
Steve Hartshorn, the Police Federation’s national chair, said: "No matter how many times it is said by government that it is putting money into policing, we are not seeing the longer-term funding settlements that would allow chief constables and police and crime commissioners to plan properly.
"I would urge the government to review its funding formula to enable forces to plan for the future effectively. Short-term, one-year financial settlements do not work, and forces shouldn't have to operate on a 'hand-to-mouth' basis.
“Policing is in crisis and the government must consider longer-term funding deals, akin to the NHS, if it is to reverse years of damaging cuts.
"It is also deeply unfair for communities to be caught in the middle of a postcode lottery of policing with a two-tier system where wealthier communities have more money available for local policing.”
Richer areas are able to supplement police resources by drawing on more funding from taxpayers. For example, in Surrey, 54.9% of the total £275m in funding it receives comes from the police share of council tax precepts.
In contrast, only 18.1% of the £343m received by Northumbria Police - a much larger force - comes directly from taxpayers.
National figures also show that years of cuts have skewed the figures.
While real terms funding has increased by 14.8% in the last five years, it has only increased by 2.7% since 2010-11. That year, forces in England and Wales received £12.9bn in overall funding, which would be worth £16.5bn at 2022-23 prices - around £454m less than has been promised to forces next year.
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for finance, said: “Overall, the figures show a real term increase in funding, which is welcome. Whilst there is always an argument for more money, on the back of changing and rising demand, the service regards the investment in the 20,000 officer uplift programme and additional government grant and precept flexibility in the coming years covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review as being a clear reflection of the importance of policing in keeping our communities safe and feeling safe.
“Policing is working hard to get good value from the additional investment, with efficiency and savings programmes to achieve balanced budgets in the face of cost and inflationary pressures.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We’re committed to giving the police the resources they need to fight crime and protect the public.
“This year’s funding settlement provided an increase of up to £1.1 billion compared to last year’s, and included an additional £550 million to support the recruitment of 20,000 extra officers by March 2023.”
