A council tax increase of up to £330m for police forces

Police forces in England and Wales could receive up to £17.4bn in funding in 2025-26, an increase of £986.9m, or 3.5%, on the previous year.

However, around a third of the increase will depend on the Police and Crime Commissioners adding £14 to council tax on the average band D property.

Home Office minister Diana Johnson said the temporary settlement “strikes the balance between protecting taxpayers and funding police forces”. in a written statement.

But Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokeswoman, said the government should “adequately fund the officers our communities need – instead of giving money to local police chiefs to levy public council tax”.

Chief Inspector Andy Cook of the Constabulary said the current police funding formula was “an anachronism”.

“What the result is, because there is now so much reliance on council tax, (is) the rich police force getting richer, the poor police force getting poorer.

“So those who can’t afford that much increase in council tax, which is generally the case but overall inner-city areas – Cleveland, Merseyside, Manchester, the West Midlands – don’t have the housing stock to pay that much. Do it.”

He added that the one-year funding settlement made it difficult for police forces to plan ahead.

Giving further details of the funding plans, the minister said £230.3m of extra funding for the force would cover recent pay rises and offset higher employer taxes for the police, announced in the Budget. has gone

In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that from next April, employers would have to pay National Insurance at a rate of 15% on salaries above £5,000, rather than the current 13.8% on salaries above £9,100.

The police funding settlement also includes £100m to start recruiting the 13,000 extra neighborhood police that the Labor government had promised to deliver.

The total amount going to policing – including money for local forces – will be £19.5bn, a real increase of 3% on last year.

Johnson also said she would change the rules to increase firearms licensing fees when “parliamentary time permits”. Currently, to own a firearm or shotgun, you need to pay a fee to obtain a firearms certificate.

Of the extra £986.9m received by local police, £657.1m consists of increased government grants.

The remaining £329.8m is expected to be raised from council tax increases.

The Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have the power to raise council tax by up to £14 for Band D properties and an equal proportional amount for other bands without triggering a local referendum.

PCCs are elected every four years and represent 39 areas in England and Wales.

Earlier this year, the then Conservative government increased funding for police forces by £922.2 million for 2024-25, including increases in council tax which are expected to be implemented by PCCs. will

In this period, PCCs can increase council tax on Band D properties by up to £13 without triggering a referendum.

last week, Police chiefs have told the BBC that the number of neighborhood police officers could be cut until the government meets the cost of pay rises and higher employer taxes..

The Home Office promised to cover the costs. However, some police forces have questioned whether the funding increase will continue for years to come.

Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, has warned that 2,300 officers and 400 other staff could be cut in 2025 due to a £450 million budget cut.

Lincolnshire Chief Constable Paul Gibson said a 13 per cent increase in the area’s population over the past 20 years had not been matched by a commensurate increase in funding.

They said they would need an extra £57m over the next three-and-a-half years to maintain current operations.