Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner warns of ‘challenging decisions’ ahead as county’s force faces a £17.5million black hole

Lincolnshire Police could be facing a £17.5million budget black hole - with a warning issued that ‘challenging decisions’ on services may have to be made unless more money is pumped in.

Marc Jones, the county’s police and crime commissioner, fears that current services many not be maintained unless new chancellor Rachel Reeves increases investment in her long awaited budget tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30).

He says that latest figures show that the force will face a £17.5 million financial shortfall if the Government fail to provide additional money to cover the police pay award. Officers and police staff accepted a 4.75% pay offer earlier this month.

And, even in the Government does fund the pay award, the force is still grappling with a £14m funding gap.

Mr Jones, a Conservative, has been calling on the previous Tory Government to change the funding formula in order to ensure that Lincolnshire - one of the most under funded forces in the country - receives more investment.

Those calls fell on deaf ears as no meaningful change was introduced before the Conservative government were kicked out of power in July after 14 years.

“For years we have been fighting to get Whitehall to recognise that the outdated funding formula is unfairly penalising Lincolnshire, its police force and its residents,” said Mr Jones.

“Under the last Government we had finally got to the point where there was universal recognition that it needed to be addressed, and a new formula was due to go out to national consultation.

“Clearly a change in Government has brought the issue to a standstill but the budget is a chance for the new cabinet to make a clear statement on police funding and I sincerely hope they take that opportunity.

“If not then we face some very real and challenging decisions on how we manage a multi-million funding shortfall. It’s hard to see how services can be maintained at their current level unless something changes.”

In 2023, the hard-up force was forced to cut the roles of 41 PCSOs last year as it faced up a £10 million budget black hole.

Earlier this year The Police Foundation, an independent think tank, released figures which showed that Lincolnshire received funding of only £196 per head – compared to £246 in Humberside and £221 in Norfolk.

If Lincolnshire received the same per head funding as Humberside it would bring in an additional £38m, or Norfolk an extra £19m.

Mr Jones has recently met, and received support from, all Lincolnshire MPs in his fight to get the county fairer funding. Ministers have been made aware of the financial situation.

He has already launched a judicial review of the funding formula used to calculate how much each force get in central Government grant – which was under review during the final months of the last Government.

The call for fairer funding has been supported by Chief Constable Paul Gibson.

He said: “I will continue to work alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner to lobby government for a sustainable funding settlement for Lincolnshire Police.

“The force consistently strives to achieve greater efficiencies and provide to the people of our county the very best value for money.

“However, it’s clear the current funding formula has meant Lincolnshire Police has been underfunded for many years.

“The new government has presented new opportunities for us to present compelling evidence that this funding formula needs to change. It is long overdue.”

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