Beware exaggerated Tory boasts on police funding

Liberal Democrats have attacked local Conservative boasts about police funding that confuse a Council Tax rise with funding from the Government.

Conservatives have claimed that "Wiltshire and Swindon Police Force is set to receive an additional £7.3million in its funding, thanks to the Conservative Government's increase to police budgets." However, Home Office figures reveal that the Government is only giving the Police an extra £3.4million for the financial year 2021-22.

The Conservative figures assume that the local Police and Crime Commissioner will raise the extra £3.8million through a £15 increase in the Council Tax precept.

Comment:

"Our police are overstretched, and many parts of Wiltshire see no visible policing. The Conservatives are desperate to seem tough on crime, but are failing to do enough to actually prevent crime. Their unnecessary cuts to police numbers and youth services have contributed to the rise in crime. And now the Tories are exaggerating the funding they are providing."

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "The Tories' boasts about police funding are nothing but smoke and mirrors.

"At a time when our police are under enormous pressure, Priti Patel has abrogated her responsibility and passed the buck to local police chiefs.

"It's just not good enough. The Government must give forces the funding they need to restore proper community policing and make us all safer."

Full details of police funding by force area for 2020-21 and 2021-22 can be found in Table 3 of the 'Provisional Police Grant Report England And Wales 2021/22 Tables', here.

The actual increases in funding for each force are set out in this spreadsheet.