UNISON Representatives Meet with Policing Minister to Push for Better Funding for Police Staff

Strategic Insights -

UNISON representatives met with policing minister Dame Diana Johnson to advocate for increased funding for police staff, who have been severely impacted by austerity measures under the Conservative government. The union's members, who specialize in various roles such as PCSOs, crime scene investigators, and call handlers, attended the meeting to present their case for more funding. They emphasized that police staff are essential to the functioning of the police service, and that the current funding shortfall is causing damage to policing in their regions.

Key Takeaways:

  • UNISON representatives from across England and Wales met with policing minister Dame Diana Johnson to push for better funding for police staff.
  • Police staff budgets have been slashed during the period of austerity under the Conservative government.
  • Police staff fulfill specialist roles including PCSOs, crime scene investigators, call handlers, dispatch controllers, and crime analysts.
  • UNISON asked the government to end centrally-dictated police officer number targets that have led to police officers taking over specialist staff roles.
  • Specialist staff jobs have been lost in local police forces, and police officers are taking over back-room roles, reducing the number of officers on the streets.
  • Forces in England and Wales are predicting a collective shortfall of just under £1 billion by 2027, with the Met Police facing the worst shortfall of £393m.
  • The size of shortfalls varies among forces, with Essex facing a shortfall of £39m and Avon & Somerset facing a shortfall of £35m.
  • UNISON Chair of the police staff sector committee for England and Wales, Debi Potter, praised the regional delegates for their articulate and powerful arguments.
  • Rob Birch from the West Midlands emphasized the importance of investing in police staff to build a more effective and productive police service.

Statistics:

  • The collective shortfall for forces in England and Wales is predicted to be just under £1 billion by 2027.
  • The Met Police faces the worst shortfall of £393m.
  • Essex is facing a shortfall of £39m.
  • Avon & Somerset is facing a shortfall of £35m.

Sources:

  • M2 PressWIRE (2025) - UNISON representatives meet policing minister