Sign in Subscribe
Mayors

Chancellor Rejects Claims of Police Officer Cuts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Rachel Reeves has rejected claims made by Sir Sadiq Khan that her spending review will result in the number of police officers being cut. The Chancellor argued that the 2.3 per cent real-terms increase in police spending power will give the police a "substantial" increase in funding. However, senior officers have warned that a lack of funds will put at risk Labour's promises to deploy an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police officers and reduce knife crime.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chancellor announced a 2.3 per cent real-terms increase in police spending power in the spending review.
  • The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) stated that the funding settlement "falls far short of what is required to fund the Government's ambitions and maintain our existing workforce".
  • Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, expressed concern that the spending review "could result in insufficient funding for the [Metropolitan Police] and fewer police officers".
  • The Chancellor rejected claims that the spending review will result in police officer cuts, saying that the police will receive a "substantial" increase in funding.
  • Labour's promises to deploy an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police officers, halve violence against women and girls, and reduce knife crime are at risk due to a lack of funds.
  • The extra funding for the police is expected to amount to just £200 million in real-terms by the end of the decade.
  • The 2.3 per cent figure includes a past boost to cover the National Insurance increase, so the policing budget will actually rise by 1.7 per cent a year.
  • Higher council tax police precepts will form part of "additional income" used to increase police budgets, alongside funds from central government.

Statistics:

  • 2.3 per cent real-terms increase in police spending power
  • £200 million per year increase in real-terms for the police
  • 1.7 per cent per year increase in policing budget (after accounting for the past National Insurance increase boost)
  • 13,000 neighbourhood police officers to be deployed (Labour's promise)
  • 50% reduction in violence against women and girls (Labour's promise)
  • 50% reduction in knife crime (Labour's promise)
  • 2020-2030: The decade during which the £200 million per year increase in real-terms will take place

Sources:

  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2024-64097760
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2023/documents/supplement-to-the-hundle-red-book-2023

Read more