Many police forces remain under strain financially. A mismatch between demand and resources is leading to unmet community needs. That’s according to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary’s (HMIC) State of Policing 2024-25 report.
While funding is now substantially higher in real terms than it was in 2017/18, as at March 2024, the size of the full-time equivalent workforce was still 3 per cent lower than in March 2010, according to the document. This is due to lower numbers of police staff and police community support officers. The report went on: “During this time, demand has changed substantially. Forces now spend more time on complex and resource-intensive issues, such as online exploitation and violence against women and girls. They also spend a large proportion of their time responding to non-crime-related matters, such as mental health crises and missing people. Meanwhile, the population of England and Wales has grown by five million since 2010, with uneven impacts across force areas.”
In his third annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, Sir Andy Cooke said: “At the end of last year, the then Home Secretary [Yvette Cooper] set out her plans for major reforms in policing and her intention to increase trust and confidence in the police. These reforms are welcome and required, and I pay tribute to her personal commitment to driving forward police reform.
“And it is clear across policing, that there is ambition for change to improve efficiency and effectiveness of policing. Chief constables are working towards the Safer Streets mission with a collaborative approach and vigour.
“However, the reforms require substantial upfront investment, and sustained commitment to succeed. They must be sufficiently funded. Without enough money, there is a risk that the ambitions of the Government and police service will fall short, and the much-needed reforms to policing either won’t happen or won’t succeed.
“Police funding has increased, yet many forces remain under strain due to rising demand and a variety of cost pressures. As I have set out in previous reports, the way the funding is distributed still needs to change because it is outdated and unfair. And the absence of a capital grant for forces remains a major barrier to making some of the long-term investments that the police need. In such a comprehensive and ambitious programme of reform, not reforming police funding would be a missed opportunity.
“For example, forces would benefit from some financial certainty, such as through a multi-year funding settlement that sets out how much forces can expect to receive.
“Change is needed now for policing to improve the service it provides to the public and how it deals with the evolving challenges it faces. There is a great deal to do to build the public’s trust and make our communities safer. As the police service needs time and opportunity to make the necessary changes, I have chosen not to make any recommendations in my ‘State of Policing’ report this year.”
Comments
At the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), the body for the rank and file police officers, Tiff Lynch, PFEW National Chair, said: “The findings and issues raised in this report are disturbing and shaming. Officers are drowning under workloads, facing increasing daily violence, and are even paying 90 per cent of the cost of their own rehab out of their own pockets.
“In this context, it is easy to understand why many officers have simply copped enough. Unless government and policing leaders put officer welfare and support at the heart of reform, the service will continue to fail both its workforce and the public.”
For the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), its chair Emily Spurrell, the Labour PCC for Merseyside said: “Neighbourhood policing remains a top priority for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and deputy mayors, so I’m pleased to see its importance acknowledged. However, concerns persist about the impact of financial pressures on delivering the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, and the effect of an inexperienced workforce on investigations and outcomes for victims—concerns many PCCs share.
“Sir Andy rightly highlights the value of the PCC-led model of local accountability and the opportunity presented by upcoming reforms to improve consistency and performance. PCCs agree that while centralisation can bring benefits, it must be balanced with flexibility to meet local needs and supported by adequate funding and oversight. The APCC is working closely with the Home Office, HMICFRS and other partners to help shape a robust national performance framework.
“Finally, the report’s findings on leadership and recruitment challenges are important. PCCs have recruited strong candidates for chief constable roles, but we must continue working to expand and diversify the pool of talent ready to take on these demanding positions.”
You can read the 70-page report at the HMIC website.
