SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation has called for a multi-year settlement to better support policing after the Police Grant Report for 2022\/23 was debated in the House of Commons.<\/p>\n
However, Chair Steve Kent said any multi-year settlement should not be a way to disguise further cuts in police funding.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s always better to be able to plan for the future because going forward. We don\u2019t know what is around the corner. There are all sorts of things that would have serious policing requirements, such as another pandemic for example. There has to be a better multi-year plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s have that sort of projection going forward, but it needs to be a projection going in the right direction. So it\u2019s got to be a multi-year settlement, but one of growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve\u2019s views echo that on the Police Federation of England and Wales after it called for a more sustainable plan for the future.<\/p>\n
National Vice-Chair Ch\u00e9 Donald said last month: \u201cThe settlement for the next financial year will total up to \u00a316.9 billion, a \u00a31.1billion rise on the previous year\u2019s funding. This settlement fails to take account of the increased costs forces will incur, which will see this \u00a31.1 billion immediately absorbed in energy, fuel and increased employer National Insurance contributions. Essentially, the Government are giving with one hand and taking with the other.<\/p>\n
\u201cAvailable funding to Police and Crime Commissioners could increase by up to an additional \u00a3796 million, but this assumes a full take-up of precept flexibility. Council tax levels are a local decision and elected PCCs will understandably want to consider what they are asking people to pay locally for policing, given the increased costs and wage restraint their electorates will be facing. Whatever local precept is decided, essentially, the public are paying twice for the same service, creating a two-tier system where wealthier communities have more money available for local policing than others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ch\u00e9 said a sustained multi-year funding settlement for policing, would better allow forces to make long term strategic plans to respond to the changing nature of crime and support communities.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOne-year financial settlements do not work and forces shouldn\u2019t have to operate on a hand-to-mouth basis. Over the last decade, the police service has been hit hard by budget cuts and it needs more than a one-year cash injection to put things right. What is desperately needed is long-term, genuine investment in policing.\u201d<\/p>\n