Chiefs in plea for changes to police funding

Some police commissioners say the current funding formula is not fit for purpose

Two police and crime commissioners (PCC) are urging their Labour colleagues in government to change the way forces are funded.

Durham's Joy Allen has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to say her constabulary is at a "tipping point".

Matt Storey, at Cleveland, has told the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper the current funding system is "broken".

A Home Office spokesman said: “Funding beyond 2024-25 will be subject to a future spending review."

"However, this government remains committed to ensuring that the police have the resources they need to tackle crime effectively.”

The calls from the two PCCs follow an annual assessment by His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke who described the police funding formula as "outdated" and "unfair".

While Mr Cooke said forces can do more with existing funding, he added those most in need can struggle to raise money through increasing council tax.

He concluded that, as well as a fair share of total funding, forces need "a reasonable degree of certainty" over the money they will receive over several years.

His report highlighted the plight of Cleveland Police which has the lowest number of officers in England and Wales compared to the March 2010 cohort, but some of the most deprived communities and the highest rate of recorded crime per head.

'Set up to fail'

Cleveland PCC Mr Storey said: "One of the results of deprivation in places like Cleveland is that it suffers higher rates of crime and antisocial behaviour than more prosperous areas.

"As a result, it is most in need of measures to tackle crime and its root causes.

"The police funding formula hasn’t been revised since 2013 and is long overdue an overhaul.

"It is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be changed to benefit areas in desperate need of help like Cleveland."

Ms Allen, his counterpart at Durham, said: "Public confidence has plummeted, and we are letting down victims of crime because there simply isn't enough left in the pot to deliver the service they rightly expect.

"As His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary rightly points out, forces need more support than is currently possible within the present funding arrangements.

"Without addressing this division, we are simply setting them up to fail."

Similar complaints about the funding formula have been voiced across the country, including in Kent, Lincolnshire and Surrey.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This government has committed to delivering 13,000 extra neighbourhood police and community support officers, tackle anti-social behaviour and introduce tougher powers to tackle repeat offending, to support areas like Cleveland."

Follow BBC North East on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].

Follow BBC Tees on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].