Lincolnshire Police "deeply frustrated" at lack of allocated funding

Marc Jones says the force is running on a ÂŁ19 million deficit each year

Author: Rory GannonPublished 2nd Nov 2024

Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has expressed his frustrations at the lack of funding the force is receiving.

The latest figures released show the force working on a shortfall of ÂŁ19 million each year in its finances.

Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said that he is "deeply frustrated and angry" that the issue of police funding, which had been addressed previous governments is yet to be tackled.

He also warned residents in Lincolnshire that, unless the amount of funding the force receives increases, the force will be changing the way it operates to conserve funds.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Jones said: "Unfortunately the budget has done nothing to ease the financial difficulties faced.

“Given that the vast majority of spending is on staff and officers, it will mean that an entirely new model of policing will have to be developed and implemented by the Chief Constable and his team to live within the budget available."

Police officers were given a boost after their pay was increased above inflation by 4.75% nationally; however, local forces are responsible for finding the extra money.

"I am deeply frustrated and angry that, despite cross party acceptance and support for a change to the funding formula and after decades of being the lowest funded force in the UK this issue has still not been resolved," he said after the Budget announcement.

"It’s deeply unfair on the people of Lincolnshire and that is why I launched a judicial review to get this issue resolved as soon as possible. Our residents deserve that."

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