NPCC statement on Spending Review

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC chair, said: “We recognise that the Government faces tough financial choices. In the face of these challenges, it’s now more important than ever that police chiefs and government continue to unite behind radical reform for policing, and crucially, give forces the flexibility they need to modernise their workforce.

“Despite the news today, our ambition to tackle violence against women and girls, reduce knife crime and build confidence in local policing remains.

“However, it is clear that this is an incredibly challenging outcome for policing. In real terms, today’s increase in funding will cover little more than annual inflationary pay increases for officers and staff.

“Whilst we await further detail on allocation to individual forces, the amount falls far short of what is required to fund the Government’s ambitions and maintain our existing workforce.

“A decade of underinvestment has left police forces selling buildings, borrowing money and raising local taxes to maintain the what we already have, with forces facing a projected shortfall of £1.2bn over the next two years, which is now expected to rise.

“This is against a backdrop of increasing crime rates, with new and escalating threats from organised crime and hostile states, and more offenders being managed in the community as a result of an overstretched criminal justice system.

“Cutting crime isn’t just about officer numbers – we need specialist skills and people, supported with the right systems and technology, to better protect communities.

“We fully support the Government’s drive to cut crime and grow officer numbers, but for these to succeed, investment in policing must live up to the ambition.”