West Midlands residents face increased council tax to fund policing. Budget approval means higher costs, potentially fewer officers, and reliance on grants.
The government grant will be £671.5 million, £42.3 million more than last year. However, it won’t replace lost officers and must also cover pay increases. The government wants the police to raise taxes, ensuring they cover daily costs. This grant helps maintain officer numbers as part of a police uplift program, which delivered 1,200 officers by March 2023, also helping with the 24/25 officer pay award and national insurance contributions.
They lost 2,221 officers from 2010 to 2019, so the police may have 800 fewer officers, and potentially 500 fewer PSCOs than in 2010. This all depends on a £12.2 million grant which focuses on neighbourhood policing. PCCs must pay for staff pay increases, costing taxpayers an extra 27p per week, or £1.16 each month.
This raise brings in £10.62 million, making the police precept total £174.8 million. However, the police still need to save £24.5 million, and also need £16.9 million from reserves.
The government assumes every force will raise taxes, so this increased tax is effectively required, as funding does not cover police needs. As Mr. Foster said, the government wants locals to pay more for less and is burdening taxpayers. He wants the government to fully fund the increase, as West Midlands Police’s budget is under pressure due to rising inflation costs.
