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Police Funding England and Wales

The Home Office manages police funding for England and Wales, currently addressing structural gaps in the funding formula that disadvantage rural forces and fail to account for demographic change. The government has committed to recruiting 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing personnel by 2029 with £200 million allocated for 2025–26, while forces face constraints on capital investment and IT modernisation due to high pay costs.

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2026

7 events
28 Jan 2026 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

The outdated and piecemeal approach to funding police forces is frustrating efforts to secure long-term productivity improvements. In November 2025, the Home Office was still working to develop an affordable plan to increase the number of personnel in neighbourhood policing roles by 13,000 by 2029. The government provided £200 million in 2025–26 to recruit 3,000 additional personnel but forces do not know what funding will be provided from 2026–27 onwards. The Home Office is still using the o...

The outdated and piecemeal approach to funding police forces is frustrating efforts to secure long-term productivity improvements. In November 2025, the Home Office was still working to develop an affordable plan to increase the number of personnel in neighbourhood policing …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
28 Jan 2026 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

Police forces are facing growing demands. This includes an increase in the number of crimes which require more specialist resources to investigate; for example, fraud crimes, sexual offences, and stalking and harassment offences increased from 768,000 cases in 2014–15 (18% of police recorded crime) to 2.1 million cases in 2024–25 (32%).23 Police forces have also absorbed additional responsibilities, such as the XL Bully dog amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act, and there have been increases in...

Police forces are facing growing demands. This includes an increase in the number of crimes which require more specialist resources to investigate; for example, fraud crimes, sexual offences, and stalking and harassment offences increased from 768,000 cases in 2014–15 (18% …

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28 Jan 2026 | Committee report linked

We asked if police forces had sufficient funding to improve their IT systems,71 particularly given the financial pressures they are facing, which has led them to increase borrowing to fund capital programmes.72 Forces also spend around 80% of their funding on officer and staff pay, which means they have limited flexibility to make capital investments, support transformation or invest in new technology.73 The Home Office reduced funding for programmes to improve productivity and roll-out new t...

We asked if police forces had sufficient funding to improve their IT systems,71 particularly given the financial pressures they are facing, which has led them to increase borrowing to fund capital programmes.72 Forces also spend around 80% of their funding …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
28 Jan 2026 | Committee report linked

We asked how the government’s commitment to put 13,000 extra personnel into neighbourhood policing roles by 2029 will be funded. The government provided £200 million in 2025–26 to recruit 3,000 additional neighbourhood 69 Q 115 70 Q 130 71 Q 67 72 Q 7; C&AG’s Report, para 1.12 73 C&AG’s Report, para 1.9 74 Q 78; C&AG’s Report, para 2.15 and 3.20 75 Qq 79, 118 76 Q 112 77 Qq 22, 114; C&AG’s Report, para 2.14 16 policing personnel (police officers and police community support officers) and the ...

We asked how the government’s commitment to put 13,000 extra personnel into neighbourhood policing roles by 2029 will be funded. The government provided £200 million in 2025–26 to recruit 3,000 additional neighbourhood 69 Q 115 70 Q 130 71 Q …

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28 Jan 2026 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

In its 2015 report on the financial sustainability of police forces, our predecessor Committee recommended that a new police funding formula be introduced in 2016–17.80 In our evidence session, we asked whether changing demographics meant the out-of-date formula had led to a structural funding gap.81 We were also concerned about the impact on rural police forces.82 Demographic changes have meant some forces, such as Bedfordshire and Warwickshire, have seen government funding per capita fall b...

In its 2015 report on the financial sustainability of police forces, our predecessor Committee recommended that a new police funding formula be introduced in 2016–17.80 In our evidence session, we asked whether changing demographics meant the out-of-date formula had led …

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2025

10 events
14 Apr 2025 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

Individual police forces did their best to monitor social media ahead of and during the disorder as a source of intelligence. It is important that forces retain local capacity to monitor social media on a business-as-usual basis. However, it is clear that the volume of social media activity, including some originating abroad, as well as the amount of activity taking place on closed platforms such as Telegram, means that in many cases more national support is required. Some of this support was...

Individual police forces did their best to monitor social media ahead of and during the disorder as a source of intelligence. It is important that forces retain local capacity to monitor social media on a business-as-usual basis. However, it is …

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

The new national system for policing should include enhanced capacity to monitor and respond to social media at the national level, while also supporting forces to develop the necessary capacity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)

The new national system for policing should include enhanced capacity to monitor and respond to social media at the national level, while also supporting forces to develop the necessary capacity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31) Type: conclusion | Number: 7 | Response …

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

Police officers worked for long hours in extremely difficult circumstances during disorder incidents, many of them suffering injury and other trauma. Those that were re-deployed but did not face significant disorder will still have experienced fatigue and an increased workload. Police forces did their best to ameliorate the impact on officers but it is clear that the disorder has had a detrimental effect at a time when many officers were already struggling with heavy workloads, fatigue and st...

Police officers worked for long hours in extremely difficult circumstances during disorder incidents, many of them suffering injury and other trauma. Those that were re-deployed but did not face significant disorder will still have experienced fatigue and an increased workload. …

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

The costs incurred by police forces during the course of the disorder look modest in the context of overall policing budgets, but these unexpected costs have nonetheless had a significant impact and are being disproportionately borne by certain forces. We welcome the Government’s earlier commitment to reimbursing forces through special grant funding, but we are concerned about the significant delays to releasing this money which put forces in a difficult position in planning for this financia...

The costs incurred by police forces during the course of the disorder look modest in the context of overall policing budgets, but these unexpected costs have nonetheless had a significant impact and are being disproportionately borne by certain forces. We …

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

If it has not done so already the Government should release funding to cover costs incurred during the disorder as soon as possible. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)

If it has not done so already the Government should release funding to cover costs incurred during the disorder as soon as possible. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51) Type: recommendation | Number: 15 | Response status: accepted Government response: The Home Secretary …

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

We commend the efforts of police forces to maintain business-as- usual policing, particularly the importance attached to maintaining neighbourhood policing. Nonetheless, the disorder and subsequent investigations have had a knock-on impact on other areas of policing, including neighbourhood policing. The Government’s focus on strengthening neighbourhood policing is welcome, as is the flexibility that the Government is allowing forces to recruit to neighbourhood teams. However, it is important...

We commend the efforts of police forces to maintain business-as- usual policing, particularly the importance attached to maintaining neighbourhood policing. Nonetheless, the disorder and subsequent investigations have had a knock-on impact on other areas of policing, including neighbourhood policing

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14 Apr 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government should benchmark recruitment plans under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to ensure that, while flexibility for forces to recruit is maintained, minimum numbers for the recruitment of police officers can be set by the Home Office if required, or more flexibility in funding provided if forces cannot meet their staffing needs through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58) The political response

The Government should benchmark recruitment plans under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to ensure that, while flexibility for forces to recruit is maintained, minimum numbers for the recruitment of police officers can be set by the Home Office if required, or …

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19 Mar 2025 | Written question Home Office linked

Fire and Rescue Services: Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to allocate additional funding to fire and rescue services to improve their wildfire and flood response rates. Answer: Government funding for fire and rescue services is …

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19 Mar 2025 | Written question Home Office linked

Fire and Rescue Services: Capital Investment

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to introduce dedicated capital investment funding for fire and rescue services to help improve (a) infrastructure, (b) fleet renewal and (c) training facilities. Answer: Government …

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2024

6 events
27 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

We are aware that Lord Walney’s review, which will look at whether powers for enhanced protection for public spaces could be extended to offices of elected representatives, is with the Home Office. We look forward to a much more urgent response from the Government.

We are aware that Lord Walney’s review, which will look at whether powers for enhanced protection for public spaces could be extended to offices of elected representatives, is with the Home Office. We look forward to a much more urgent …

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27 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

Following the policing priorities inquiry, we concluded that it was no longer sufficient for individual police forces to design their own workforce plans and recommended that the Home Office set out and implement a national workforce strategy that addresses officer and staff numbers and skills. The resource demands of the policing of recent protests demonstrate again that a wider national workforce plan is needed.

Following the policing priorities inquiry, we concluded that it was no longer sufficient for individual police forces to design their own workforce plans and recommended that the Home Office set out and implement a national workforce strategy that addresses officer …

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27 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

We again recommend that the Home Office set out a workforce plan and strategy for policing over the next ten years as a matter of urgency. As previously set out, the plan should address officer and staff numbers and skills and particular attention should be placed on recognised areas of shortage. London has unique challenges in this respect, including the policing of protest, which should be taken into consideration. The plan should be subject to periodic review and impact analysis.

We again recommend that the Home Office set out a workforce plan and strategy for policing over the next ten years as a matter of urgency. As previously set out, the plan should address officer and staff numbers and skills …

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27 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

We recently called for an urgent review and update of the Police Allocation Formula, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces. The Home Office must ensure that police funding recognises the true nature of demand upon the service and provides the resource it needs to meet them. (Paragraph 72) Hate crime and terrorist offences

We recently called for an urgent review and update of the Police Allocation Formula, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces. The Home Office must ensure that police funding recognises the …

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1 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

The Government’s contribution to additional security funding for counter-terrorism has recently stagnated despite the continuing terrorist threat, and the justice budget in Northern Ireland has risen by just 3% compared to respective increases of 70% 50 The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland and 45% for health and education over the last 12 years. We consider this level of funding to be unsustainable and propose that improved funding arrangement...

The Government’s contribution to additional security funding for counter-terrorism has recently stagnated despite the continuing terrorist threat, and the justice budget in Northern Ireland has risen by just 3% compared to respective increases of 70% 50 The effect of paramilitary …

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1 Feb 2024 | Committee report linked

We are concerned at the budgetary shortfall that the PSNI is facing, not least in the context of recent security incidents evidencing starkly the ongoing threat from terrorist and paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. The financial liabilities that the Service may now incur as a result of the significant data breach in August 2023 will only serve to make this situation worse. Fewer resources for the PSNI will inevitably lead to a reduction in its ability to tackle paramilitary activity. A ...

We are concerned at the budgetary shortfall that the PSNI is facing, not least in the context of recent security incidents evidencing starkly the ongoing threat from terrorist and paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. The financial liabilities that the Service …

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2023

7 events
10 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

Use of stop and search powers is particularly controversial and has a wide-ranging impact for the Met in particular. But this is not an issue that other forces can afford to ignore. Disproportionality in stop and search across policing damages community relationships. Our report on “The Macpherson Report: twenty two years on” drew attention to the evidential gap on the effectiveness of stop and search in reducing serious violence crime. That evidence is still lacking.

Use of stop and search powers is particularly controversial and has a wide-ranging impact for the Met in particular. But this is not an issue that other forces can afford to ignore. Disproportionality in stop and search across policing damages …

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10 Nov 2023 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

Crime and demand patterns change over time. Policing priorities need to reflect this these changed contexts. We are not convinced that the 43-force model facilitates an effective strategic response to change especially as forces develop different initiatives that do not always align. The understandable lack of appetite for major changes to that structure intensifies the need for the centre to provide the basic building blocks for an effective service. It therefore cannot be right that the Pol...

Crime and demand patterns change over time. Policing priorities need to reflect this these changed contexts. We are not convinced that the 43-force model facilitates an effective strategic response to change especially as forces develop different initiatives that do not …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
10 Nov 2023 | Committee report Context · primary home: Policing policy linked

Multiple bodies are involved in setting the strategic direction of policing both locally and nationally. However, the Home Office must provide a strong “strategic centre” and take responsibility for providing policing with the resources it needs to succeed. As a first step, the Home Office must urgently review the Police Allocation Formula and update it where necessary, setting out points for future review in advance to facilitate effective planning by PCCs and forces.

Multiple bodies are involved in setting the strategic direction of policing both locally and nationally. However, the Home Office must provide a strong “strategic centre” and take responsibility for providing policing with the resources it needs to succeed. As a …

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16 Oct 2023 | Written question Home Office linked

Police

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to help increase public trust in the police. Answer: The Government has been clear that police officers must be held to the highest …

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14 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department how the transition from Airwave to ESN would be funded. It said it would work with users to make transition affordable, but the only way to do this was through usual ‘fiscal events’.37 Although it said it would try and minimise the financial impact, it acknowledged there would inevitably be some financial impact on police forces, fire services and ambulance services.38 While the Department was confident that HM Treasury would provide the necessary funding at the next s...

We asked the Department how the transition from Airwave to ESN would be funded. It said it would work with users to make transition affordable, but the only way to do this was through usual ‘fiscal events’.37 Although it said …

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31 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

The Department acknowledged that the current police resourcing levels for fraud needed to increase. In April 2022, we reported on the Department’s Police Uplift Programme which aimed to recruit 20,000 new police officers.27 However, as set out in our sister Committee’s report, only 380 of these 20,000 officers (around 2%) will specialise in fraud. The City of London Police told us that forces were willing to investigate fraud but that the issue was often the availability of resources. It expl...

The Department acknowledged that the current police resourcing levels for fraud needed to increase. In April 2022, we reported on the Department’s Police Uplift Programme which aimed to recruit 20,000 new police officers.27 However, as set out in our sister …

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31 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

We asked the Home Office whether police forces needed to consider fraud as a strategic objective, and be given the resources needed, so that the issues relating to fraud can start to be addressed. The Home Office told us that it had “heard that message loud and clear” and that it was hopeful that the issue would have progressed by the net iteration of the Strategic Policing Requirements. Following our evidence session, in February 2023 the Home Office published its Strategic Policing Requirem...

We asked the Home Office whether police forces needed to consider fraud as a strategic objective, and be given the resources needed, so that the issues relating to fraud can start to be addressed. The Home Office told us that …

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2022

3 events
22 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

The NAO reported that experienced police tutor constables (who supervise new officers for periods of their training) had shared concerns about the extra effort this role required in addition to their normal duties, and this was echoed by staff from police training teams. The National Audit Office’s survey of chief constables also highlighted tutor constable ‘burn-out’ as an issue. We asked the Department about the risk that more experienced officers were being overly burdened by the need to a...

The NAO reported that experienced police tutor constables (who supervise new officers for periods of their training) had shared concerns about the extra effort this role required in addition to their normal duties, and this was echoed by staff from …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jul 2022 | Committee report linked

We asked whether the Programme was about more ‘bobbies on the beat’ rather than tackling the more complex areas of crime that are growing, such as serious sexual offences and fraud. The Department told us that the Programme would not have a direct and immediate impact on such issues, as it was focused on recruiting officers at the entry level whereas crimes such as rape required more experienced officers. The Department told us that some new officers who were recruited directly as detectives ...

We asked whether the Programme was about more ‘bobbies on the beat’ rather than tackling the more complex areas of crime that are growing, such as serious sexual offences and fraud. The Department told us that the Programme would not …

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18 Jul 2022 | Written question Home Office linked

Fire and Rescue Services: Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to incorporate the building safety grant agreed following phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry into the base funding provided to fire and …

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2021

6 events
8 Dec 2021 | Committee report linked

On funding, the Department confirmed that it might give forces funds to ‘come on board’ and test things early, and that it had put aside a £30 million contingency, specifically to work with individual forces on their adoption of the new law enforcement data system.34 On ensuring that police have the funding in future for NLEDS, the Department said it would keep working with forces to ensure they could make the choices each of them needed to make, and that this was part of the spending review....

On funding, the Department confirmed that it might give forces funds to ‘come on board’ and test things early, and that it had put aside a £30 million contingency, specifically to work with individual forces on their adoption of the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
30 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government has committed to the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers by 31 March 2023. We agree with the Home Secretary that the uplift must be used to make immediate and significant progress in tackling the persistent under- representation of BME communities within the police force. We also welcome the work done by some forces over the last year to achieve an increase in the number of BME recruits. But we need a substantial and sustained increase from all forces. We are 18...

The Government has committed to the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers by 31 March 2023. We agree with the Home Secretary that the uplift must be used to make immediate and significant progress in tackling the persistent under- …

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29 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We strongly support calls for Police and Crime Commissioners to make action on violence and abuse towards retail workers a priority in police and crime plans. We are very concerned how few appear to have prioritised this in past plans, or to have recognised the human cost of retail crime. The resetting of police and crime plans, following the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May 2021, presents a valuable window of opportunity to ensure that this previously neglected crime is properl...

We strongly support calls for Police and Crime Commissioners to make action on violence and abuse towards retail workers a priority in police and crime plans. We are very concerned how few appear to have prioritised this in past plans, …

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29 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

The lack of capacity in neighbourhood policing teams to build relationships with retailers, identify prolific offenders and respond swiftly to incidents of retail crime has damaged the confidence of retail workers. It has made it harder to maintain close relationships between the police and local high street retailers, or to pursue community relationships, which has had a significant impact on crime prevention work. These teams play a vital role in identifying and addressing the specific chal...

The lack of capacity in neighbourhood policing teams to build relationships with retailers, identify prolific offenders and respond swiftly to incidents of retail crime has damaged the confidence of retail workers. It has made it harder to maintain close relationships …

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29 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

There is clearly an issue with the consistency of the policing response to retail crime across the country. In light of this finding, the Committee was disappointed to learn that the Government is no longer directly funding the work of the National Business Crime Centre. The National Business Crime Centre is well placed to ensure the sharing of best practice approaches, improve links with the business community and drive up consistency. At a time when violence in retail and business settings ...

There is clearly an issue with the consistency of the policing response to retail crime across the country. In light of this finding, the Committee was disappointed to learn that the Government is no longer directly funding the work of …

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24 Mar 2021 | Written question Home Office linked

Undercover Policing Inquiry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of not funding the legal costs for participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Answer: The Undercover Policing Inquiry is independent of …

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2017

1 event