Chair calls for end to one-year funding settlements for policing

11 February 2022

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke has backed calls for a multi-year funding settlement to better support policing rather than yearly announcements.

Rich spoke out as the Government revealed its financial commitment to policing for the forthcoming financial year was going up £1.1 billion from the previous 12-month period to a total of £16.9 billion.

He said: ”It stinks that at present the safety of our citizens remains so low down the list of priorities for Government spending. Yes, there have been recent increases but still our historic police stations are disappearing and our new recruits struggle to make ends meet. Transformative investment is required. 

“Every Force and Police and Crime Commissioner needs to ensure its money is spent wisely for a start, I’m not it always is. We badly need to invest in our people and our infrastructure, and we need to do this fast.

“The danger is the increased costs that forces will incur in real terms may see much of this £1.1 billion swallowed up by higher energy and fuel bills and not allow the level of investment that’s so imperative.”

Rich said he supports Police Federation calls for a complete overhaul of the funding model which would include switching from an annual settlement to a multi-year budget.

National Federation vice-chair Ché Donald says: “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.”