Lincolnshire Police faces a £14M budget gap, risking jobs. They seek urgent Home Office help before February’s end.
The budget must be ready soon, by February’s end, which leaves them with just over a week. They hope they get some help, as Marc Jones spoke about talking with the Home Office. He hopes they get funds, which could prevent the worst outcome.
Jones described the situation as very bad at a meeting about the budget. Council tax for police will rise by 4.59 percent this April, which is about £14 extra each year for a Band D home. Lincolnshire Police leaders have warned people, saying they are England’s poorest-funded force.
Chief Constable Paul Gibson also spoke, knowing money would be tight when he joined. The funding felt very thin, compared to other forces in the East Midlands. Gibson said they welcome more funds, but inflation ate up all the extra money. Other costs also put stresses on the budget.
Cuts would change the police a lot; they would react instead of preventing crime. About 60 officers leave each year, due to retirement or career changes.
Police officers cannot be made redundant, so they might freeze hiring. This freeze could last several years, maybe more, while they wait for officers to leave. This is in addition to cutting staff.
Yvette Cooper spoke about funding, saying they know police faced problems. That is why funding is rising, to help forces keep people safe. She said they would work with the police to improve efficiency, making the money go further. People can see that it provides real value.