Policing Minister, Brandon Lewis, heard the argument for a favourable review of funding for policing in Leicestershire during a face to face meeting at the Home Office with Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach and CC Simon Cole QPM.
Leicestershire’s two top policing figures travelled to London yesterday (21 Feb) to put the case for a fairer funding deal for policing in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to the Minister - ahead of a further meeting to which all local MPs had been invited.
Pointing out that Leicestershire has a population which is growing above the national average without an accompanying increase in police funding, Willy Bach said: “I know I’m not alone, every PCC in the land wants additional funding, but I do believe that our need is greater than others.
“Putting it bluntly, last year Leicestershire received £168.9 per head of population compared to the national average of £181.5 – yet the challenges we face are some of the most complex in the country.
“I am aware that the Force has received positive reviews on its performance from HMIC. I’m very proud of this. But perversely these reviews might not be advantageous in terms of funding. I was keen to explain to the Minister that a fairer funding deal for Leicestershire Police would bring noticeable benefits to the quality of service policing in the county.
“As it stands we have suffered to the tune of £5.6m each year due to the failure to implement the current formula and I’m keen that any revision of the formula doesn’t seek to repeat that.
“The Minister listened to our case and he was well-informed, but I’m under no illusions that we are anything but in a queue. However, I’m grateful for the opportunity to put our case forward and hope that we were persuasive.”
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Posted on Wednesday 22nd February 2017