Fed chair calls for overhaul of Force funding

11 February 2022

Hertfordshire Police Federation is backing calls for funding reform which would see the introduction of multi-year financial settlements rather than yearly announcements.

The calls come amid growing criticism of the Government’s 2022/23 agreement which is going up £1.1 billion from the previous 12-month period to a total of £16.9 billion but fails to take into account soaring energy costs.

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Geoff Bardell said: “We want to see the introduction of a well thought-out, properly costed and sustainable funding model which includes a multi-year settlement.

“The existing system is no longer working and we need a complete overhaul of the way funding settlements are reached and delivered.

“The budget has increased by £1.1 billion this year but that will hardly cover the extra fuel and energy costs and the additional National Insurance contributions so the Government is essentially giving with one hand and taken away with the other.

“And, unfortunately, that does very little to support our members who still face the same challenges surrounding stretched resources and a soaring workload.”

Police Federation national vice-chair Ché Donald is leading the calls for reform.

He said: “As the Government announces the 2022/23 funding settlement for policing, the Police Federation of England and Wales continues to call for a more sustainable multi-year settlement, rather than year upon year funding.

“The Government must consider a sustained multi-year funding settlement for policing, which will allow forces to make long term strategic plans to respond to the changing nature of crime and support communities. 

“The ability to plan past the next year will enable forces to achieve better procurement deals and to see overall costs come down. 

“Without the ability to search for better deals due to the uncertainty of what is to come year after year, the 2022/23 marginal increase will get lost in the high day to day costs that forces are currently incurring.

“One-year financial settlements do not work and forces shouldn’t have to operate on a ‘hand-to-mouth’ basis. 

“Over the last decade, the police service has been hit hard by budget cuts and it needs more than a one-year cash injection to put things right. What is desperately needed is long-term, genuine investment in policing.”