Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Police Funding Formula

Monday 27 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Suffolk police have 1,425 officers, the highest number in their history.
  • The minister supports out-of-court disposals to address drug and alcohol addiction and mental health issues.
  • Imran Hussain asked about reforms to POCA rules to direct more funds to neighbourhood policing.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Aldous Con
Policing & Resources
Context

The question arises from concerns about the current police funding distribution and its impact on local forces. There are specific issues regarding promised draft proposals for a new funding formula.

Question

What progress has been made on reviewing the police funding formula? Suffolk police were promised draft proposals back in January, but they have not yet received them. I urge to get those to our local force as quickly as possible and work with it to improve out-of-court disposals.

Answer from Chris Philp

Suffolk police currently have 1,425 officers, which is more than at any time in their history. The number of out-of-court disposals has an important role to play, particularly in treating drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues. I will work with Suffolk and other forces to ensure these are widely used.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific draft proposals for the review were not addressed

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Q2 Peter Aldous Con
Policing & Resources Mental Health
Context

Concerns persist about the impact of police funding on local forces, particularly in relation to out-of-court disposals. There is a need for improved communication between central government and local police.

Question

I am most grateful for the answer provided earlier. However, it remains concerning that Suffolk police were promised draft proposals back in January. Can you get those to our local force as quickly as possible? Also, work with them to improve out-of-court disposals which would relieve pressure on officers.

Answer from Chris Philp

Suffolk police currently have 1,425 officers, which is a record high. I support out-of-court disposals as they address drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues effectively. Work with Suffolk and other forces to ensure these are widely used.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific draft proposals for the review were not addressed

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Q3 Imran Hussain Lab Bradford East
Policing & Resources
Context

Neighbourhood policing has seen significant cuts since 2010, despite its advantages. Reforming the police funding formula is needed but reforming POCA rules could quickly allocate more funds to neighbourhood policing.

Question

Since 2010, neighbourhood policing has been decimated despite its benefits. We desperately need reforms in the police funding formula. However, one quick way for the Government to get cash to forces for neighbourhood policing is by reforming POCA rules so that more money goes back to the confiscating force. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this?

Answer from Chris Philp

I am happy to discuss POCA with the hon. Gentleman and colleagues. However, there is a definitional confusion about neighbourhood policing as it includes local police officers in response teams. In 2015, there were 61,083 officers in local roles; now there are 67,785. Overall, we have 149,566 officers across England and Wales, which is a record high.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Discussion of specific POCA rule changes was not addressed

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