Warwickshire Police Authority

Members of Warwickshire Police Authority discussed the Government's decision not to cap Warwickshire Police's budget in this financial year at their meeting on Monday, June 30. Whilst welcoming the decision not to cap the current budget it was noted that the Police Authority has now received a communication from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) indicating their intention to restrict precept increases at "around three per cent" in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

In setting this year's budget the Authority clearly indicated that it would be seeking to set precept increases in subsequent years at or below five per cent. The proposed level indicated by the Government would significantly impact on plans for policing in the next two years.

The Police Authority has been informed that a precise figure will be provided in due course and that they may challenge that figure before a final decision is taken. The Authority will decide whether to make such a challenge when a precise figure is available, based upon a careful analysis of impact and after taking advice from the Chief Constable.

At Monday's meeting, Warwickshire Police Authority agreed to consider the force's budget provision for future years during the financial planning process which begins in the autumn.

The Chief Constable informed the Authority that any reduction in the resources available to the force will reduce the amount of protection from harm the force can deliver to local communities. The Chief Constable will report to a future meeting of the Authority the impact that different levels of funding would have.

The Chief Constable reassured the Authority that Warwickshire Police would continue to focus on tackling the most serious harms faced by communities in order to deliver the best possible protection with the resources available. The Chairman of the Authority, Phil Blundell thanked all Members of Parliament who had urged the Government not to cap the budget this year and indicated that the Police Authority would seek to maintain and further improve the impressive improvement in police performance seen over the past two years.

The setting of the force budget is the legal responsibility of members of Warwickshire Police Authority, based upon advice from the Chief Constable.