West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has written to the Home Secretary about cuts to police funding totalling nearly £100 million.
Analysis shows police force’s government funding will actually be cut by more than £96 million next year, despite the high-profile government promise that police funding will be protected. The Home Office is including potential increases in council tax with actual government funding.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said:
“The Policing Minister is trying to say that council tax paid by hard working people is in fact direct funding. It is a kick in the teeth to council tax payers and just not correct.
“The Policing Minister is trying to cover up his cuts and cling to the myth that police funding has been protected – it hasn’t. The public may see this as a deception. He needs to set the record straight urgently.
“Funding to local police forces is falling whatever tricks the government may employ.
“I wish they’d just be honest and admit it. Across the country local police forces are facing more than £96 million in cuts than the year before from the government, which equates to a potential reduction of 2,014 police officers.”
2016/17 – local police force’s funding from government: £7,421,588,629
2017/18 – local police force’s funding from government: £7,324,892,843
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson’s letter to the Home Secretary:
/media/439132/2016-01188-letter-from-west-midlands-police-and-crime-commissioner.pdf
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