Following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review announced earlier today, below is a response from the Hampshire Police Authority. Ed
The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) announcement made by the Government today sets out the Government’s four-year spending plans and the steps that will be taken to reduce the financial deficit.
Although a figure of a 6% cut to the full Home Office budget each year, and a figure of a 4% saving each year to the policing budget has been announced today, at this stage it is not clear how this will impact policing in Hampshire directly.
Full details by end of the year
Further details on the percentage of this budget cut that will be passed on to Hampshire will not be known until the Police funding settlements are decided later in the year.
Cllr Jacqui Rayment, Chair of Hampshire Police Authority said, “We will of course protect frontline policing from the cuts as much as possible; however, in expectation of the cuts we face the Authority and the Constabulary are taking important steps to identify where we can make further efficiencies.”
“Policing in Hampshire is already low cost and high performing in comparison to many other forces, therefore the task of identifying where we can squeeze more efficiencies is not an easy one. The Authority will be consulting and engaging with residents on the impact of the potential budget early next year.”
Prepared for reduction
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Marsh, said: “The Constabulary has been working for some months to scope how we can best keep the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safe whilst making the most of our resources and achieving a budget reduction.
“As we have previously stated, collaboration is one way in which we can make real savings and we will continue to explore this with neighbouring forces.”
“We must now await the decision of the Home Secretary with regard to exactly what budget we will have available for next year and we will not be making any final decisions until that process has taken place, which we expect to be in mid December.”
