Policing Investment Should Not Need Months Of Uncertainty

8 September 2026

Policing needs long-term strategic investment, not plans that “change like the weather”, Leicestershire Police Federation has said.

Chair Andy Spence was speaking after Leicestershire PCC Rupert Matthews scrapped plans for private security patrols in towns and villages across the county.

Instead, a new police plan will see addition patrols by both police officers and PCSOs.  

But Andy criticised the “months of uncertainty” it has taken to before the PCC decided to invest extra into policing, having first announced his idea for private security patrols back in February.

Andy said: “The PCC’s decision to invest money into the police service should not be headline news; it should be business as usual. It should not have taken months of uncertainty to direct funding into a force facing a deficit of more than £9m.

“Since these plans were first mentioned to me in February, I have been opposed to them. It made no sense to spend public money on private street wardens who have no powers and could only call the police.

“I am pleased that the PCC has seen sense and changed his mind. I am concerned that it has taken so long and, in doing so, has created so much work for others.

“It should also be concerning that the remainder of the money is being spent on crime reduction techniques with no measurable outcomes, rather than on police officers or PCSOs who can put their skills and training to use.

“I hope this is not a short-term funded plan. Policing needs long-term, proper investment, not ideas that change like the weather.”