Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has today welcomed the Government’s 4.2% pay rise announcement for police officers.
£120m will be provided nationally to cover 1.4% of this, with forces expected to meet 2.8% themselves - the level Surrey Police have budgeted for.
But Lisa has warned that Surrey could receive less than it’s fair share whilst other forces receive more than 1.4%, placing further burden on Surrey’s taxpayers.
Due to lack of government clarity as to whether the £120m will be allocated based on headcount or in line with the national funding formula for general policing budgets, it is not yet clear how much Surrey Police will actually receive.
Additionally, there has been no confirmation from the Government that this increase will continue to be covered into future years, which could leave Surrey - and other forces - facing a further shortfall or having to raise local council tax to help cover costs.
Speaking following the announcement, Lisa said “Our police teams in Surrey routinely put themselves in harm’s way to protect residents. They run towards incidents that others run from to keep communities safe.
“I am delighted with the news that the Government is recognising the amazing job they do. This increase in pay is the least they deserve for their professionalism, dedication and service.
“While the £120m grant is welcome to help us meet the additional cost of the pay award, beyond the 2.8% we have budgeted for, it does not factor in other costs such as pensions and overtime, and we have not yet had clarity over how this will be distributed.
“It is no secret that policing is under significant financial pressure and rising demand. Here in Surrey, we are poorly-served by the funding formula and receive the lowest level of Government grant in England.
“Our residents contribute 55 per cent of the total cost of policing through council tax, while the remaining 45 per cent is provided as a grant. If this pay increase is not properly funded long term, the cost would mean an additional £6 of council tax for Surrey residents.
“I am now calling on the Government to confirm that it will commit to funding this pay increase in future years. This funding settlement must be sustainable, or in the longer-term Surrey Police and other forces may face challenges that impact the delivery of both policing and financial planning.
“Policing in Surrey and around the country is becoming ever more complex. I remain committed to ensuring our officers and staff can meet that challenge for the benefit of our county.”
