It is extremely disappointing that the Government simply refuses to acknowledge the acute resource crunch our forces are facing and continues to handout short-term funding arrangements.

Taking into account the rise in police officer numbers on the back of Police Uplift Programme, today’s police funding announcement is the worst financial support forces have received in recent years.

The Government’s claim of forces getting up to £922 million extra funding for 2024/25 falls flat when considered against the payroll commitment for 233,832 full-time equivalent workforce as of 31 March 2023 (officers, staff, Police Community Support Officers and designated officers).

This will reduce the funding by more than a half for chief officers to cover the day-to-day cost of ongoing policing projects and keep their heads above the water while seriously hampering our forces’ ability to initiate long-term crime prevention projects.

PFEW National Chair, Steve Hartshorn, said: “It is disappointing to see PCCs yet again having to choose to take more money from local residents who have already paid for policing in taxes at a time when the cost of living is still biting hard on many, especially the recent energy cost increases.

“To say that “should PCCs choose to take full advantage of police precept flexibility”, is at best a misleading way to describe another way to not fund policing completely and centrally, which continues a post code lottery of funding. Those areas that can least afford to pay extra will suffer unless funds are apportioned according to the needs of the public.

“PFEW is keen to work with the Government to find solutions that could save public funds and drive overall efficiencies of our forces.”