As the details of his 2025-26 budget for policing Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland were unveiled, PCC Rupert Matthews said that this budget had been developed to protect the quality of policing across the Leicestershire Force area.
Particular focus has been placed on the type of policing local residents told the PCC were most important to them.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC will discuss his latest budget with members of the Police and Crime Panel, including his recommendation for a £14 increase in the amount of council tax paid towards policing for a Band D property, at a meeting on 5 February.
PCC Rupert Matthews said: “The current financial landscape is really tough for all public sector organisations and Leicestershire Police is no exception. Despite making savings of £23.3m over the last three years, we are still wrestling with a budget deficit.
“That’s because funding has not kept pace with real term cost increases over which we have no control such as nationally set pay rises and the ongoing impact of inflation, or the impact of new legislation which costs the Force dear to implement.
“I’m also very disappointed that despite the Government’s contention that it would fund its increase in National Insurance in full, that is not the case. There is a £300k gap that will need to be paid for by money that should be spent to make Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland safer for its residents.
“I have relentlessly called upon the previous and current Governments to address the inequity in police funding. I will not stop until the funding we receive is adequate to meet demand for service.”
Through the detailed budget reports, the Panel will learn about the difficult budget setting process. This includes the methodology and outcomes from a survey conducted by the Commissioner regarding the amount of council tax (the police precept) the public pays towards policing. Overall, 76% of respondents were supportive of paying at least £14 to maintain service levels of policing in Leicestershire.
The Commissioner will tell members that the Chief Constable Rob Nixon has assured him that the budget of £254.65m for the financial year 2025-26 will protect the frontline services which are so valuable to the public. It will also strengthen performance in key areas such as crime prevention; call handling and other ways in which the public contact the Force; and digital technology.
As such the Commissioner will recommend that the Panel agrees to his proposal of an increase of £14 (4.89%) in the police precept for an average property (Band D). This figure varies depending on the property band, but in 2025-26 an average property will pay just over £300 a year towards policing.
Rupert Matthews continued: “The Government’s funding package puts policing on a cliff edge. The increase in the precept, the savings made to date, the emphasis on value for money and the use of reserves will enable levels of service to be maintained.
“Quite simply, cutting crime costs. Keeping people safe costs. Helping people in an emergency costs. That’s why we need more money, now, in order to do more of those vital elements of policing. We are not using our reserves this year to bolster our budget but to pay for new initiatives that will make us more efficient. This is not a long-term solution. It is plugging a gap that continues to grow.
“The Government’s own funding figures include the maximum increase in the precept, and with the unfair funding settlement they have provided it is impossible not to place a further burden on local households.
“I am very grateful to the public for its continued support and would like to acknowledge the work of the Force, in particular Chief Constable Rob Nixon, and my own team for their hard work in bringing this very challenging budget together without major cuts to service.”
Ends
Read the reports here: https://bit.ly/40B1m8U
Enquiries: Sallie Blair 07702 541401
Posted on Friday 31st January 2025