November 17, 2014 3.47 pm This story is over 112 months old

Lincolnshire PCC invites police budgeting feedback

What do you think?: Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is appealing for suggestions as he sets the budget for the county’s policing.
The first elected Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Alan Hardwick. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is appealing for suggestions as he sets the budget for the county’s policing.

PCC Alan Hardwick must set a budget for the force and, with a predicted 4% decrease in its government police grant expected for next year, he has launched a public consultation.

Consultation feedback, which must be submitted by Friday, November 28, is collated through an online form, and social media feedback using @AlanHardwickPCC.

Forms can be collected from the following police stations: Skegness, Mablethorpe, Boston, Louth, Caistor, Market Rasen, Gainsborough, Force Headquarters (Nettleham), Lincoln (West Parade), Birchwood, Bracebridge Heath, Grantham, Stamford, Sleaford, Bourne and Spalding.

Anyone wishing to take part can also print the budget consultation form and send it to The Police and Crime Commissioner, Lincolnshire Police Headquarters, Nettleham, Lincoln, LN2 2LT.

PCC Alan Hardwick said: “We are constantly striving to make your police force as efficient and effective as possible. By doing things like investing in technology the officers we have are better equipped to do their jobs. They can also spend more time in the community without needing to return to a police station.

“Around 55% of the costs of policing in Lincolnshire are paid for by a grant from central government. But Government’s police grant is expected to reduce by around 4% next year and that trend is expected to continue in future years.

“If other police forces spent the same as we do per head of population, Government could save £1 billion on what it spends nationally on policing, but we already receive the lowest government funding per head of population.

“Not only that, but the vast majority of our other funds come from a precept on Council Tax which is already higher than the national average.

“The police grant needs to be distributed more evenly across the country and that means other police areas need to shoulder a greater burden of the funding reductions by becoming more efficient.”

Lincolnshire currently has the lowest policing costs in the country per head of population. In 2014, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) graded Lincolnshire Police as “outstanding” in delivering affordable policing.