Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Police Funding: North-east England — [Pete Wishart in the Chair]

13 October 2026 · 11 other contributors · 12,817 words

Opened by Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham

Responding minister: Sarah Jones

Policing & ResourcesCrime & Law EnforcementEconomyEmploymentWomen & Equalities

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Luke Akehurst raised concerns about police funding: north-east england — [pete wishart in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Luke Akehurst raised concerns about systematic underfunding affecting police resources in the north-east and Cleveland, citing a 7.8% reduction in police officers across the North East since 2010.
  • Andy McDonald highlighted that Cleveland has the highest recorded crime rate per 1,000 people in England and Wales, with 123 recorded crimes per 1,000 people and a 15% reduction in officers since 2010.
  • Akehurst called for an urgent review of the police funding formula and additional police numbers for the North East to address previous cuts and the region's unique challenges.

Key requests to Government

Akehurst calls for an urgent review of the police funding formula to ensure that communities in the north-east and Cleveland receive fair and adequate funding to meet the demands of policing their areas. Akehurst called for additional police numbers to be allocated to the North East on top of the existing neighbourhood policing guarantee to reverse previous cuts. He also asked the Government to provide a timeline for a review of the police funding formula and to ensure that the review considers the unique challenges faced by the region, including high crime rates and rural policing demands. McDonald urged the Government to consider piloting a revised needs-based allocation for Cleveland for 2027-28, taking into account its exceptional crime rate, deprivation, and depleted officer numbers, followed by a decision on additional recurring funding. He requested an urgent assessment of Cleveland's needs and serious consideration of additional recurring funding to deliver visible change on the ground for communities.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham

Luke Akehurst is concerned about the tragic deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, highlighting that these incidents are not isolated but rather a result of systematic underfunding. He mentions that the current funding formula is broken, with funding levels inversely related to the levels of crime in the communities, leading to a significant disadvantage for the north-east and Cleveland in terms of police resources. Luke Akehurst expressed deep concern over the significant reduction in police numbers in the North East since 2010, resulting in increased crime rates and challenges for communities. He cited specific data, including a 7.8% reduction in police officers across the North East and a 6.7% decrease in County Durham, and highlighted the severe impact on public safety and community security. A recent incident in Cleveland underscored the vulnerability of the region to law and order breakdowns. Andy McDonald highlighted that Cleveland police is dealing with the highest levels of recorded crime per 1,000 people in England and Wales, with 123 recorded crimes per 1,000 people and a 15% reduction in full-time equivalent officers since 2010, from 1,652 to 1,405. He emphasised the ongoing issues in Middlesbrough, including the tragic A66 collision in August, which exposed the demands placed on a small force and the need for mutual aid from other constabularies. The mutual aid bill has already exceeded £4 million, and the additional £2 million support is insufficient to address the structural funding deficit.

Other contributors (11)
  • Alan Strickland Lab Easington

    Mr Strickland highlighted the additional costs of policing semi-rural and post-industrial areas, noting that 43% of County Durham's population lives in rural areas and that his constituency is entirely villages and small towns. He mentioned the growth in county lines and organised crime, and asked the Minister to consider how police funding can better address these issues in rural settings. He also pointed out the ongoing challenges of deprivation and the need for better funding reflection. Additionally, he called for more investment in family intervention projects and schemes to reduce youth reoffending. Strickland urged Ministers to put more pressure on authorities to act against irresponsible landlords allowing properties to become magnets for crime and disorder.

  • Andy McDonald Lab Middlesbrough

    Andy McDonald highlighted the high levels of recorded crime and the significant reduction in police officers in Cleveland. He advocated for immediate and additional funding to address the structural funding deficit, stressing the importance of rebuilding police capacity and putting officers back into communities to prevent crime and build relationships. Andy McDonald questioned Max Wilkinson about the cuts to Cleveland police under the Liberal Democrats' leadership, specifically the loss of 500 officers. The MP is concerned about the political bias in the current funding formula, which negatively impacts constituencies in the north-east of England. He urges the government to address the urgent need for corrections to the formula, stating that waiting for recalibration is unacceptable. The MP agrees with the shadow Minister that the loss of officers in Cleveland is imminent and requires immediate action.

  • Ian Lavery Lab Wansbeck

    Ian Lavery paid tribute to fallen officers and highlighted the devastating impact of austerity cuts on policing in the north-east, noting a lack of resources to tackle evolving crime and administrative burdens. He pointed out that two of the largest towns in Northumberland have no manned police stations due to budget constraints, and cited an incident where a constituent was unable to access a police station for a welfare check. Lavery also mentioned the closure of the custody suite in Bedlington, which forces officers to transport detainees to Newcastle, taking valuable police time and resources off the streets.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon highlights that underfunding of the police is not unique to the north-east but is also a problem in Northern Ireland, where police numbers have declined and funding is scarce despite significant drug seizures. He emphasizes the importance of community policing and urges the Minister to prioritize this aspect in addressing police funding issues.

  • Jonathan Brash Con Woodford Green and Essex South

    Jonathan Brash supports the motion, expressing sympathy for the families of the fallen officers and agreeing that the current funding formula is broken, resulting in underfunding for areas with high crime levels.

  • Lewis Atkinson Lab Hendon

    Lewis Atkinson expressed concerns about the significant funding cuts to Northumbria Police, which saw a 31% reduction in real terms between 2010 and 2019, resulting in 255 fewer officers. He highlighted the higher crime rates and mental health incidents in the north-east, and the critical role of police visibility in boosting community confidence and reporting. He welcomed the Government's decision to replace the previous headcount target with a neighbourhood policing target but emphasised the need for more neighbourhood posts and their protection.

  • Luke Myer Lab Redcar

    Luke Myer acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by Cleveland Police, highlighting the high crime rates and severe deprivation in the region. He noted that Cleveland Police requires an estimated 500 additional officers to bring workload closer to the national average. Myer also mentioned the need for at least £20 million in additional funding each year to match the demand and praised the progress made by the force despite the pressures. He called for a focus on the north-east as police reforms progress and requested clarity on PCC funding beyond 2028. The MP welcomes the commitment to change the funding formula but stresses the urgency of the situation. He points out the unfair distribution of funding, with Norfolk receiving £50 million more than Cleveland despite having fewer crimes. The MP urges the Minister to consider in-year reforms to accelerate changes in the north-east.

  • Mary Foy Lab Dewsbury

    Mary Foy highlighted the challenges faced by North East police forces, including a reduction in police officers despite rising demand and increasing complexity of policing tasks. She cited examples of high crime rates and the impact on officers' well-being, as well as the need for funding that reflects deprivation, rurality, and vulnerability. Foy expressed concerns about low-level crime and antisocial behaviour impacting communities and raised the issue of reassurance for young people and elderly residents about police presence and safety.

  • Matt Vickers Lab Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

    Matt Vickers expressed concerns about the funding challenges faced by the Cleveland Police, which serves some of the most deprived communities in the country with a high crime rate. He highlighted a decrease in police officers in Cleveland, stating that the number fell by 17 between March 2025 and March 2026. Vickers also mentioned the need for the funding formula to better account for deprivation, crime, and demand, and called for an end to the early release scheme to ensure that repeat offenders face consequences for their crimes. The MP requests an intervention from the Minister.

  • Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport

    Max Wilkinson expressed concern about the reduction in police officers in Cleveland under the Conservative government, noting the loss of around 400 officers and the need for 200 additional officers during disorder in the summer. He highlighted the need for community policing and for more resources to be directed towards frontline policing rather than online crime. He also called for a new police agency to tackle serious online crime, funded by a levy on big tech and AI companies.

  • Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Sunderland West

    Sharon Hodgson highlighted the issues of antisocial behaviour, such as theft and off-road bikes, affecting communities in the north-east. She supported the Labour Government's Crime and Policing Act 2026, which aims to tackle crime and provide support for victims of antisocial behaviour. She noted that police numbers in the north-east have fallen by 8% since 2010, resulting in 578 fewer officers, including 255 in Northumbria police. She also pointed out that the north-east relies more on central Government funding compared to wealthier regions and stressed the need for funding reforms to address deprivation and local revenue raising capacity.

Government Response

Sarah Jones

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Wishart. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham on securing this debate. I start by paying tribute to our police officers and police staff, who work tirelessly in difficult circumstances. I mention the tragic deaths of PC Blades, PC Clough, and PC Turnbull, all of whom died this year. Their loss impacts not only their families but also their communities. The minister acknowledges the struggle in terms of people's confidence in policing and the challenges faced. She mentions meeting the police and crime commissioner or chief constable multiple times to discuss these issues. The minister states that the funding formula used to be based on various indicators such as deprivation rates, crime rates, rurality, and ethnicity. However, when the Conservatives began austerity, they cut all forces by the same proportion, leading to a loss of the connection between funding and these factors. The minister asserts that the Government is reviewing the funding formula and aims to ensure fairness. She explains that the funding for the year ahead will be allocated and exceptional financial situations will be considered. The minister touches on police reform, emphasizing the need to equip police forces to tackle everyday crime and the changing nature of crime, particularly in the digital age. She highlights the importance of neighbourhood policing and the deployment of more police in communities. The minister acknowledges questions about violence against women and girls, antisocial behaviour, online harms, and the early release scheme and offers to meet and discuss these issues further.

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