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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police budget cuts detail revealed | Police budget cuts detail revealed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police forces in England and Wales face cuts in central funding in the next two years of 4% then 5%, the government has announced. | Police forces in England and Wales face cuts in central funding in the next two years of 4% then 5%, the government has announced. |
| Policing minister Nick Herbert said the cuts would be "challenging" but the savings were possible "while protecting the front-line" police services. | Policing minister Nick Herbert said the cuts would be "challenging" but the savings were possible "while protecting the front-line" police services. |
| Central funding will fall to £9.3bn in 2011-12, then £8.8bn the year after. | Central funding will fall to £9.3bn in 2011-12, then £8.8bn the year after. |
| The Association of Police Authorities says the cuts could stall progress on crime reduction and public confidence. | |
| In the Spending Review in October, police learned they faced a 20% cut in funding by 2014-15. | |
| Mr Herbert said the government would "play its part by reducing bureaucracy, driving more efficient procurement, and working with forces to ensure that the savings of over £1bn a year identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary are delivered". | Mr Herbert said the government would "play its part by reducing bureaucracy, driving more efficient procurement, and working with forces to ensure that the savings of over £1bn a year identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary are delivered". |
| The minister announced separate funds for counter-terrorism, and until 2013 for neighbourhood policing. | |
| A prioritised budget for counter-terrorism would see £567m allocated for 2011-12, it was announced. | A prioritised budget for counter-terrorism would see £567m allocated for 2011-12, it was announced. |
| Mr Herbert announced a further £600m for "safety and security" during the London Olympics in 2012, although he said the government was confident that could be delivered for £475m. | Mr Herbert announced a further £600m for "safety and security" during the London Olympics in 2012, although he said the government was confident that could be delivered for £475m. |
| The separate neighbourhood policing allocations are worth £340m in 2011-12, and £338m the following year. | The separate neighbourhood policing allocations are worth £340m in 2011-12, and £338m the following year. |
| 'Squeezed' | |
| The Association of Police Authorities (APA) chairman, Rob Garnham, welcomed the decision to maintain the counter-terrorism and neighbourhood policing funds. | |
| But he said: "There can be no doubt that the financial prospects over the next four years remain daunting. | |
| "There is a risk that the positive momentum of the last few years on crime reduction and public confidence will be interrupted, at a time when communities are likely to be looking more towards the police for help when other public services are scaling back." | |
| It was also likely that public services and voluntary groups would be cutting funds that had traditionally supported police-led initiatives, leaving forces "squeezed from several directions at once", Mr Garnham warned. | |
| While acknowleding the need to cut expenditure in the police service, the APA has urged the government to rethink how the cuts are phased over the four-year period. | |
| It believes that if budgets are slashed too heavily too early, it will damage police forces' ability to transform their working practices and make savings that way. | |
| With the cuts currently scheduled by the Home Office, Mr Garnham said: "It is difficult to envisage how some loss of service can be avoided." |