Louth and Horncastle MP welcomes increased funding for Lincolnshire Police
A relieved MP for Louth and Horncastle has welcomed the news of increased funding for Lincolnshire Police after her successful lobbying.
Last year, Conservative Victoria Atkins criticised the Labour government’s proposed funding cuts for the force, claiming they would have “grave impacts” on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Chief Constable, Paul Gibson, even warned that the Lincolnshire force would have to lose up to 200 officers and just as many support staff if the cuts went ahead.
However, the government has now announced that Lincolnshire Police will be allocated a total of £100.1 million for 2026/27, which represents an increase from £95.6 million the previous year.
The force will also receive an additional £12 million in 2026/27 and, provisionally, for the following two years, in recognition of “the uniquely challenging circumstances” it faces.
Add on the money it gets from council tax and the chief constable believes the force’s budget will be in the region of £195 million for the upcoming year, which was “significantly more than we’ve had before”.
Mr Gibson is sure this will allow him to recruit up to 220 new officers, up to 20 new PCSOs (police community support officers) and up to 120 members of staff, bringing the force back to its normal state.
Ms Atkins said: “Last year, I raised the alarm along with the PCC (police and crime commissioner), the Chief Constable and other Conservative MPs about the proposed police funding cuts by this government and the grave impacts such cuts would have on policing our rural and coastal areas, including hidden crimes such as domestic abuse.
"Therefore, I welcome the revised proposals from the government that will see an increase in funding and exceptional grants over three years.
"I also welcome the Chief Constable’s plans to recruit more officers and PCSOs, but will monitor this carefully to ensure that our constituency in Louth and Horncastle receives its fair share.
“I will also be monitoring this funding to ensure that it is used to prevent crime and catch more criminals here in Lincolnshire, not siphoned off to pay for Labour’s national police force reorganisation.”
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