Police Finances

This report focuses on the impact of the Government's proposed settlement for police forces from 2011-12 to 2014-15. It is expected that there will be significantly fewer police officers, police community support officers and police staff as a result of the savings being required of police forces over the next four years. The loss of posts will have an impact on the range of services that the police provide and the way in which they are provided. Police forces are being asked to prioritise the front line but there is confusion as what exactly this term means. The Home Office should work with the police service to produce an agreed definition of front line, middle office and back office police roles as soon as possible. The Government should continue taking urgent steps to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. More co-ordinated procurement also offers scope for savings. The Home Office should clarify who will be responsible for driving better procurement when the National Policing Improvement Agency is phased out in spring 2012. The greatest savings are being required of police forces in 2012-13, when the transition from Police Authorities to Police and Crime Commissioners is scheduled to take place and when police forces nationwide will be under the additional pressure of policing the Olympics. The Home Office should acknowledge that there are risks involved in this transition and should set out how it should be managed. Police forces need a funding system that offers long-term predictability in order to be able to plan more effectively, especially at a time of reduced income.

Statistical data on police budget and manpower trends is related to historical trends in the other public services. The author concludes that although the American police service has received substantial increases in man power and budgets, it has not been underwritten, either in terms of dollars or man power, to the same general extent as most other public services since 1900.