CHANGES to the way government money is allocated to police forces in England and Wales will be delayed.<\/p>\n
Police Minister Mike Penning blamed a “statistical error” in a new formula that assesses population size and other data to calculate funding.<\/p>\n
The proposed changes for 2016\/17 will now be delayed, Mr Penning said. The Home Office has not said for how long.<\/p>\n
Mr Penning (pictured) said the government “regrets” the mistake and apologised to MPs and to all 43 police forces in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
The issue has caused “a great deal of concern to police forces”, he admitted.<\/p>\n
Answering an urgent question in the Commons, he said: “We recognise this has caused a great deal of concern to police forces around the country.<\/p>\n
“I and the government regret this mistake and I apologise to the House.”<\/p>\n
The government had launched a consultation on plans to change the formula, prompting six Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to threaten the Home Office with legal action.<\/p>\n
They argued the proposals were “unjustified and deeply flawed”.<\/p>\n
Three days before the Commons statement, the Home Office was forced to reveal the new formula was based on flawed calculations.<\/p>\n
Labour MP Keith Vaz said 31 out of 43 police forces would have lost money as a result of the error.<\/p>\n
He told the Commons: “What started off with good intentions is rapidly descending into farce. To call it a shambles would be charitable.”<\/p>\n
Mr Penning said consultation responses from chief constables and PCCs, as well as evidence given to the Home Affairs Select Committee, were factors in abandoning the changes.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Penning said the government would now seek the views of PCCs and the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council before proceeding with the changes.<\/p>\n
The current formula would be used to establish police force funding for the 2016\/17 financial year, he added.<\/p>\n
Shadow policing minister Jack Dromey condemned the error as an “omnishambles process”, saying Mr Penning must “get a grip and get it right”.<\/p>\n