Spending Review criticised by Tory police leaders

Three Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in the south of England have criticised the chancellor's long-term spending plans.

Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday that police funding would rise by 2.3% a year to fund 13,000 more neighbourhood officers.

But Thames Valley PCC Matthew Barber and Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC Donna Jones said the increase was funded by an assumed increase in council tax, while Dorset PCC David Sidwick said policing was at risk without "significant investment".

Reeves told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme she did not "accept" the need for cuts to police jobs.

Reeves' comments were in response to Labour's London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan saying the Spending Review would lead to cuts to frontline policing.

Police budgets are made up of funding from both central government and a portion of council tax called the police precept.

PCCs can raise this precept by £14 a year for a Band D council tax bill without having to have a referendum. This is in addition to a 5% general rise.

"When they talk about spending power, that's predicated on me increasing council tax by £14 every year for the next three years on local taxpayers," said Barber.

"The chancellor says no tax rise is needed to fund her spending plans [but] she's simply ing the buck from one place to another, and taxpayers end up picking up the bill."

Jones said the plan to increase neighbourhood policing by 13,000 officers was "now merely a pipe dream".

"What it is going to mean is that smaller police forces across the country will probably be forced to reduce their head count for police officers, and probably entirely get rid of police community officers," she said.

Sidwick said Dorset residents "already pay over and above what other areas do for their police force" because rurality and seasonality were not considered in the funding formula.

"That is not right," he said.

"I understand there are tough decisions the government must make - we've had to make many in Dorset due to years of underfunding - but it is clear that serious and very real concerns from all corners of policing have once again not been heeded by those in power."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are committed to ensuring that police forces have the resources they need to keep our streets safe.

"Council tax levels are a local decision, and elected police and crime commissioners will consider the appropriate level for their local priorities.

"Further details for next year will be set out in the autumn as part of the annual police funding settlement."

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