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| Police in England and Wales to get 5% funding cut | Police in England and Wales to get 5% funding cut |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police forces in England and Wales will have their central government funding cut by almost 5% in the next financial year, the Home Office has confirmed. | Police forces in England and Wales will have their central government funding cut by almost 5% in the next financial year, the Home Office has confirmed. |
| Policing minister Mike Penning said there would be a cash reduction of £299m in the overall 2015-16 police funding budget, compared with 2014-15. | Policing minister Mike Penning said there would be a cash reduction of £299m in the overall 2015-16 police funding budget, compared with 2014-15. |
| But the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will get a £30m funding boost to take on more work. | But the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will get a £30m funding boost to take on more work. |
| Labour said the government had "systematically undermined" policing. | Labour said the government had "systematically undermined" policing. |
| Mr Penning said spending of £8.19bn in 2015-16 was a real-terms reduction of 4.9%, "maintaining" a level of cuts announced by Chancellor George Osborne last year. | Mr Penning said spending of £8.19bn in 2015-16 was a real-terms reduction of 4.9%, "maintaining" a level of cuts announced by Chancellor George Osborne last year. |
| He said the 43 forces in England and Wales were facing "many challenges" but the government would always ensure they had the "resources they need for their important work". | He said the 43 forces in England and Wales were facing "many challenges" but the government would always ensure they had the "resources they need for their important work". |
| Some funding has been allocated for specific areas where Mr Penning believes there is a "national policing interest". | Some funding has been allocated for specific areas where Mr Penning believes there is a "national policing interest". |
| This includes "maintaining funding for counter-terrorism policing of at least £564m", allocating £70m to the Police Innovation Fund and the extra money for the IPCC. | This includes "maintaining funding for counter-terrorism policing of at least £564m", allocating £70m to the Police Innovation Fund and the extra money for the IPCC. |
| 'Going backwards' | 'Going backwards' |
| It is the second consecutive annual funding increase for the IPCC. | It is the second consecutive annual funding increase for the IPCC. |
| In 2014-15 the organisation doubled its number of investigations staff, and is on course to start almost twice the number of cases compared to last year, Mr Penning said. | In 2014-15 the organisation doubled its number of investigations staff, and is on course to start almost twice the number of cases compared to last year, Mr Penning said. |
| The £30m extra for 2015-16 would allow it to deliver "significantly more independent investigations," he added. | The £30m extra for 2015-16 would allow it to deliver "significantly more independent investigations," he added. |
| Labour's shadow policing minister Jack Dromey said: "The British model of policing, neighbourhood policing and building a real relationship with local communities is being systematically undermined by the Tories." | |
| He said former progress on tackling crime and getting justice for victims was now "going backwards", while 999 response times were "up to 30% longer". | |
| Labour would abolish police and crime commissioners and require forces to work together to "make the savings they need", he added. | |
| The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said the funding announcement would mean "maintaining a strong frontline presence will inevitably become much more challenging". | |
| 'Shrinking budgets' | |
| Sir Huge Orde, president of the Association Chief Police Officers, said forces had succeeded in reducing overall crime while coping with cuts - but he said it would "increasingly difficult to maintain performance levels". | |
| Speaking about the money allocated to specific areas such as the Police Innovation Fund, Sir Hugh added: "Most forces would prefer that this money was left in their budget to spend where there is most need in their force." | |
| All forces in England and Wales will have their funding cut by the same percentage. | All forces in England and Wales will have their funding cut by the same percentage. |
| The chief constable of Lincolnshire had previously warned his force would be "unviable" in three years due to cuts. | The chief constable of Lincolnshire had previously warned his force would be "unviable" in three years due to cuts. |
| On Monday, the Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said forces faced "years of more austerity and shrinking budgets" and needed to merge with other emergency services. | On Monday, the Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said forces faced "years of more austerity and shrinking budgets" and needed to merge with other emergency services. |