Tony Hogg welcomes Government’s police grant settlement

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has welcomed the Government’s latest settlement for police funding.

The PCC today received the police funding settlement for 2016/17 which provides central government funding for almost two thirds of Devon and Cornwall police expenditure.
As expected the settlement is based on a 1.4% real reduction in funding over the next four years, this is on top of the 20% reductions already announced in previous years.
This settlement and assumed council tax increases of 1.99%, means Devon and Cornwall Police will see an overall cash improvement of 0.5% next year.
However, Devon and Cornwall, like all other forces, will see further reductions as increased amounts are taken to finance national policing initiatives – this also means further savings will be needed over the next four years.
“The less severe reductions in funding and this settlement is overall good news for policing in Devon and Cornwall,” said Mr Hogg.
“However savings are still required and we will need the breathing space that this settlement provides in order to plan for the different way policing services will need to be delivered in the future.
“I am disappointed that the Government is yet to set out how it intends to take forward arrangements for the police funding formula.
“It is losing valuable time and must act soon if it is to create a viable new approach to how it allocates police funding.”