ACPO comment on police funding settlement

ACPO lead for finance and resources, Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell, said:

“Today’s announcement provides welcome additional detail for police forces on the funding they can expect in the coming years. The move to reduce ring-fencing of funds provides chiefs officers with some greater flexibility in allocating resources to where they are most needed to keep the public safe locally.

“These figures make clear that there are difficult choices ahead – for the police service, for police partners and for government. The cumulative impact of cutting police budgets year-on-year will translate into reductions of police officers and staff across the service. The extent of the cuts will depend on the financial circumstances of each force and the different reliance that each force has on local and central funding streams. Each force will now take the time to study the financial implications in detail and discuss them with local partners.

“The police service will continue to work hard to ruthlessly drive out inefficiencies and collaborate with others wherever savings can be made.

“Every chief officer remains committed to doing all they can to protect frontline service delivery to the public, including those parts of policing which the public see at work in neighbourhoods every day, but also the less visible but equally critical policing work, from counter-terrorism to public protection, which together help keep people safe."

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk