Declares that current proposals to change Leicestershire’s policing budget through the revision of the funding formula as well as other cuts could jeopardise the safety of thousands of residents; further that this will result in an unacceptable loss of £700,000 from the force’s budget; and further that the proposals will lead to fewer officers keeping Leicester safe and give a green light to criminals.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to immediately review the proposed funding formula for Leicestershire Constabulary.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Keith Vaz, Official Report, 10 November 2015; Vol. 602, c. 350.]
[P001553]
Observations from the Minister for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice (Mike Penning):
As I set out to the House of Commons on 9 November, the Government have listened to the views of policing partners and are delaying implementation of the new funding formula.
The Government have secured a good settlement for the police. Police spending will be protected in real terms over the Spending Review period, when the locally funded police precept element of council tax is taken into account. This is an increase of up to £900 million in cash terms by 2019-20.
Proposed allocations of central Government funding for individual police force areas are set out in the Provisional Police Grant Report, published on 17 December.
Overall, the public should be in no doubt that the police will have the resources they need to respond to new threats rapidly and effectively to help keep people safe.