Lincolnshire branch of Police Federation calls for end to ‘outdated and deeply flawed’ funding formula

Additional money for Lincolnshire Police is just ‘delaying the inevitable’ unless a long-term solution is found for the force’s funding crisis, says an officer association.

Chief Constable Paul Gibson has agreed to delay plans to axe 200 officer jobs and 200 back office staff until the autumn after the Government agreed to provide an additional £5.7million funding package, as we reported yesterday.

The Lincolnshire Branch of the Police Federation, which is an association for officers, says this is a ‘temporary reprieve’ and ‘prolongs the anxiety’ of colleagues.

Lincolnshire Police was facing stinging budget cuts due to a £14million financial black hole - but has received a package of support following lobbying by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones. Earlier this year the force warned of the ‘imminent withdrawal of core services’ due to the funding crisis.

But the force is no stranger to having to make job cuts after shedding 41 Police Community Support Officer jobs in 2023.

Lincolnshire remains the worst funded force in the country due to a funding formula which leaves the county at a huge disadvantage by using metrics such as population density to calculate how much cash is allocated.

The county branch of the police federation says that this ‘outdated and deeply flawed’ formula needs to be reviewed.

A statement said: “While any additional investment in Lincolnshire Police is welcome, the £5.7 million announced merely delays the inevitable and does nothing to provide the long-term certainty the force requires to effectively plan or deliver sustainable services.

“It is a temporary reprieve, not a solution, and it prolongs the anxiety many of our colleagues feel about their future roles and livelihoods.

“This development only reinforces the urgent need for Government to reform the outdated and deeply flawed police funding formula. Lincolnshire Police continues to operate under a model that is fundamentally unfair, ineffective, and wholly unfit to meet the current demands of modern policing.

“The reliance on obsolete data and a formula that fails to reflect our county’s unique needs severely restricts the force’s ability to deploy resources where they are most needed. This not only hampers efforts to prevent crime and address emerging threats, but also places additional strain on a workforce already stretched to its limits.

“Officers and staff across Lincolnshire do a remarkable job under incredibly difficult circumstances. Their professionalism and commitment to the communities they serve is unwavering. However, without fair and adequate investment, Lincolnshire will never receive the level of policing it rightly deserves, and our colleagues will remain under immense pressure trying to deliver a service the public expects with resources that fall far short.

“The Government must make it a priority to address two key issues: a revised, fairer funding formula and fair remuneration for those who serve. The current situation is unjust, not only for the force and its workforce, but also for the communities we diligently serve.”

Mr Jones has also suspended the High Court action against the Home Office to concentrate on the constructive and positive discussions regarding the long term funding of Lincolnshire Police.

The Judicial Review looking at whether the continued use of the national policing funding allocation was lawful was successful in a hearing in March and set to proceed to a full hearing in June which will now not take place.

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