Police chief renews warning over budget shortfall

Chief Constable Paul Gibson is preparing for a meeting with the policing minister

Lincolnshire's police chief says he remains hopeful his force can avoid huge cuts as he prepares for a meeting with the government.

Chief Constable Paul Gibson told Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday that he would use his upcoming meeting with Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson to address a £65m shortfall over the next three years.

He raised the prospect that teams dealing with sex offences and child abuse could be at risk from the budget squeeze.

The Home Office said Lincolnshire Police would receive £174.5m in the current financial year – an increase of 6.2% on last year.

Mr Gibson, who has previously said that 400 jobs could be cut without extra money, said Lincolnshire had been the "least funded force for the last 15 to 20 years" due to factors such as losing the rural policing grant.

"We've been existing on one-off funding from the government year-by-year and, of course, that's not the best way to build strategy and run a police service," he said.

"We have a £65m shortfall over the next three years and what I'm looking to work with the government is an achievable, sustainable solution.

"There is a limit on how much you can improve when you may potentially need to cut 25% of your staff, so that's why I'm hoping we can work with the government to find a sustainable solution to this."

Mr Gibson said he started talks with the Home Office earlier this year in a bid to ensure community policing was not cut.

"I'm hoping we never get to the position where neighbourhood policing has to go, as it is the bedrock of building confidence with communities and engaging with them," he said.

"And, of course, if we end up having to cut our specialist teams dealing with sexual offending and child abuse, it would be a difficult issue for us, so that is why we're working so hard to find a solution that is sustainable for Lincolnshire."

He added that it was a "good force that can deliver", but it needed more funding.

"I know this will be concerning for our communities, but I do know that if we were funded equal to many of the other forces across the country, I'm absolutely confident that the improvements that need to be made can be made," he said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We will continue working with the police to ensure they have the resources they need to restore visible neighbourhood policing to our communities, and tackle the crimes that make people feel unsafe."

The BBC has contacted Dame Diana for comment.

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