Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Friday 6th November 2015

No decisions have been taken on police funding beyond 2015/16. Future funding levels will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review which will report on 25 November.

HMT asked Government Departments to set out plans for reducing their Resource budgets. In line with the approach taken in 2010, HMT asked Departments to model two scenarios, of 25% and 40% in real terms by 2019/20. This modelling is a start point for discussions between Departments and HMT.

While we acknowledge that the current police funding settlement is challenging, there is no question that the police still have the resources to do their important work. What matters is how officers are deployed, not how many of them there are in total. Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners have demonstrated that, with reform, it is possible to do more with less and forces have increased the proportion of officers working on the frontline.

We have made it easier for the police to do their job by cutting red tape, scrapping unnecessary targets, and giving forces the discretion to use their professional judgement. However there is more that can be done, as HMIC have set out in their most recent report, ‘PEEL: Police Efficiency 2015’, there remain significant efficiencies to be delivered from ICT, collaboration and improving workforce capability.

Police reform is working and crime has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010, according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales, meaning citizens and communities are safer than at any point since the survey began in 1981.

Home Office