Police face further budget cuts - to the tune of £1 million

Police Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick has criticised the Government for ‘favouring national initiatives over local policing needs’ - but says he remains committed to ensuring the county’s policing policies are met.

The cuts equate to a 4.8 per reduction in the authority’s 2014-15 budget.

“National initiatives are being prioritised over local policing needs,” Mr Hardwick said. “The Government has top-sliced the police grant nationally to the tune of £80 million to prop-up Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the failing Independent Police Complaints Commission.

“Around £50 million, which would have been spent on local policing across the country – a so called ‘innovation fund’ - is being used to cajole inefficient and wasteful Forces into finding ways to save money and be more effective.

“In Lincolnshire, we have always taken the view that is part of the day job and done it without financial assistance. We would expect others to do the same.”

“The provisional police grant settlement leaves us with having to find an additional £1 million in savings above those we had planned for. This is disappointing and means an increase in the police precept is inevitable. “However, the Chief Constable and I remain committed to delivering our priorities of continuing to reduce crime, making sure police and services are there when needed and ensuring our communities feel they receive a fair deal from Lincolnshire Police.”

Yesterday, Mr Hardwick also announced a public consultation on the budget settlement and his plans for the coming year.

He concluded: “I continue to honour my commitment to listen to what the people of Lincolnshire have to say and, as always, look forward to hearing their views.”