Further funding cut for Devon and Cornwall Police

The budget for Devon and Cornwall Police will be cut by a further £2.5m next year to help fund national projects, the force's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has announced.

The reduction is on top of government cuts, where the force must reduce spending by £51m by 2015.

Funding for the projects will be shared by police forces across the UK.

PCC Tony Hogg said it "put a huge burden on our budget". The Home Office said the money would be well used.

'Public confidence vital'

Mr Hogg said the funds would help expand the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the College of Policing and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

He said the region must also help pay for a new Police Innovation Fund, which will be money made available to PCC's for new ideas in policing.

Mr Hogg said: "This news puts a huge burden on our budget and directs too much of our funding to the centre.

"This can only be to the detriment of neighbourhood policing which is an area I am passionate about protecting."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The money allocated to the IPCC and HMIC represents around 0.3% of total government funding to police, while the proportion of frontline officers has increased under this government.

"It is vital the public has confidence in the integrity of police and the tools that hold them to account, which is why we are strengthening the powers and resources of the IPCC.

"The funding for the HMIC will ensure the public has clear information about how their force is performing in cutting crime and providing value for money."

A Devon and Cornwall PCC spokesman said the force's 2014/15 budget would be published at the end of February.