Core police funding amount from Government 'terrible', says PCC

Thames Valley’s Police and Crime Commissioner has levelled criticisms against the Government over core funding – saying, simply, it is not enough.

The police settlement announced by Government on December 18 confirmed Thames Valley Police’s core funding will be £8.8million less than expected.

The PCC’s office says this will ‘barely cover the costs of inflation and pay increases.’

Conservative PCC Matthew Barber said: “This settlement is terrible news for Thames Valley Police.

“While the Government push headlines claiming they are investing more in policing, the harsh reality is that yesterday’s settlement means nearly £9million less than we were expecting.

“Even with the significant burden the Government are looking to pass on to local council taxpayers this still leaves a huge gap in our funding plans for policing next year.

“I am appalled by the way the Government has handled this process which leaves [police] forces struggling to balance budgets.

“[It] is in complete contradiction to the Government’s own Comprehensive Spending Review.”

Mr Barber added he has already met with the Chief Constable and will be working over the Christmas period to consider how the force can still set the budget in the New Year.

In it, the force will continue to prioritise the protection of front-line services, he said.

“It will be challenging to balance the budget going forward,” said Mr Barber.

“It is likely to mean delaying or cancelling future spending plans.”

He added that it would likely also mean the force drawing down its reserves ‘sooner than anticipated’.

The force had hoped to find additional productivity savings – above what it has already planned – but these changes throw a spanner in the works.

Nonetheless, ‘sound financial planning’ means that Thames Valley is ‘in a stronger position than many police forces,’ Mr Barber added.

“I am confident that we will be able to amend our plans to ensure that we can maintain frontline policing,” he said.

“[But][ these cuts from the Home Office will inevitably have a long-term impact unless the Government think again.

“This appalling situation reinforces the urgent need for a review of the police funding formula.

“[It] is outdated and becoming more unsustainable every year.”

In response, Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said: “We are providing police forces with a significant increase in funding that will allow them to step up their efforts in tackling the crimes that are blighting our communities, including knife crime and antisocial behaviour.

“But we know that funding alone will not deliver our ambitions. Police leaders have been crying out for reform, and our upcoming white paper will deliver this to free up officer time and get bobbies back on our streets.”

Overall, police forces across England and Wales will receive up to £19.5billion next year – up by £798million on 2025-26.

Thames Valley Police will receive up to £653.5million, an increase of up to £26.1million compared to the 2025-26 police settlement, the Home Office said.

In other news, the PCC has a survey about what residents would like to see the policing part of their 2026/27 council tax spent on.

This will be open until 12pm on Friday, January 2 and can be found at tinyurl.com/OPCC-consult