Police funding boost is not enough, says Thames Valley's PCC

The Government’s planned cash boost for Thames Valley Police is not enough, says the force’s Police and Crime Commissioner – and council tax will likely have to go up to plug the gap.

PCC Matthew Barber raised concerns that funds promised by the Home Office are not enough ‘to keep the lights on’ – and the force may end up seeing a fall in police officer numbers.

He is referring to the Police Funding Settlement and the planned boost that the Government announced yesterday.

This fund is set to increase by six per cent for Thames Valley next year, making about £622million.

This, the Home Office says, will ‘help tackle anti-social behaviour, restore neighbourhood policing and make our streets safer.’

But Mr Barber (a Conservative) said the settlement ‘does not provide the increase in core funding needed to relieve the pressure on the policing budget in Thames Valley'.

“It falls short of the increase necessary to maintain current levels of policing, let alone deliver the increases that we would all want to see,” he said in a statement.

Despite some positive changes, the Homes Office has ‘still not provided adequate funding to cover the police pay rise announced earlier this year,’ he said.

He said that, as such, an increase in council tax will be needed ‘to keep the lights on’.

Within council tax, there is a portion of the bill called the police precept that funds local policing. This is set by the PCC themselves.

The news that Mr Barber believes he must increase this precept comes hot on the heels of RBWM saying it wishes to raise council tax by a staggering 25 per cent.

Mr Barber continued: “A third of the national £1billion increase announced by the Policing Minister is in fact expected to be funded by local council taxpayers.

“As a result, despite rhetoric about a neighbourhood policing guarantee from the Home Office, we may end up seeing a fall in overall police officer numbers at a time when I want to be protecting and investing in the frontline.”

He added: “We have already doubled the number of neighbourhood officers in the Thames Valley, and I am pleased to say that in the last year crime has continued to fall.

“It goes without saying however that I want to see continued improvements in policing and reductions in crime for our communities.

“This can only be achieved if the police receive proper funding and investment.”

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

“We recognise the financial and operational challenges that police forces across the country have faced in recent years, and that is why we are providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.

“We will also work closely with forces at a national and regional level to maximise efficiency and innovation, so that every penny they receive goes as far as possible and provides real value for the public.”

Mr Barber said he and TVP’s Chief Constable will be working through the financial implications of this settlement over the coming weeks.