Staffordshire Police Federation has added its voice to demands for police funding reform which would see the introduction of multi-year financial settlements rather than yearly announcements.
The calls come amid growing criticism of the Government’s 2022/23 agreement which is going up £1.1 billion from the previous 12-month period to a total of £16.9 billion but fails to take into account soaring energy costs.
Staffordshire Police Federation chair Phil Jones said the existing funding model was no longer fit for purpose and prevented forces from effective long-term planning.
He said: “The time has come for the Government to sweep away this outdated system of funding and replace it with a sustainable model which has multi-year settlements rather than annual deals at its heart.
“This year’s budget is up by £1.1 billion but it doesn’t take into account the extra fuel and energy costs that forces are going to be lumbered with as well as the additional employer National Insurance contributions.
“It feels like the Government is giving with one hand and taking away with the other and once again it is our members who feel the heaviest impact when they are on the frontline facing the challenge of trying to meet ever-increasing demand.”
Police Federation national vice-chair Ché Donald is leading the calls for reform to the current funding model.
He said: “As the Government announces the 2022/23 funding settlement for policing, the Police Federation of England and Wales continues to call for a more sustainable multi-year settlement, rather than year upon year funding.
“The Government must consider a sustained multi-year funding settlement for policing, which will allow forces to make long-term strategic plans to respond to the changing nature of crime and support communities.
“The ability to plan past the next year will enable forces to achieve better procurement deals and to see overall costs come down.
“Without the ability to search for better deals due to the uncertainty of what is to come year after year, the 2022/23 marginal increase will get lost in the high day to day costs that forces are currently incurring.
“One-year financial settlements do not work and forces shouldn’t have to operate on a ‘hand-to-mouth’ basis.
“Over the last decade, the police service has been hit hard by budget cuts and it needs more than a one-year cash injection to put things right. What is desperately needed is long-term, genuine investment in policing.”
