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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Lincolnshire Police Chief Worried About Government Funding

The Chief Constable for Lincolnshire Police has said that he is worried about the future of his police force due to the lack of funding.

A chief constable has said that reductions in police officer numbers, staff, and services will be necessary following a government funding announcement.

Lincolnshire Police which covers Skegness, Lincoln, and Boston, has been allocated £173.2 million for 2025, seeing an increase of £8.9 million compared to this year. Chief Constable Paul Gibson acknowledged this additional funding but regarded the government’s grant as a “nominal increase” that fails to address the “real and everyday challenges in the county.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper argued that the government was providing forces with “a substantial increase.” However, Chief Constable Gibson has requested a meeting with the policing minister, as the force faces a projected £57 million deficit over the next four years.

More than half of this increase will be sourced from Home Office grants, while £4.1 million will come from anticipated rises in council tax bills, expected to average an increase of £14. Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones expressed disappointment with the funding settlement, stating that the county’s force remains the worst funded in the nation.

Mr. Gibson criticized the current funding model as “outdated,” claiming it leaves Lincolnshire without a “fair deal.” He warned about potential cuts to the workforce, which would lead to reduced public service for Lincolnshire’s residents. “It’s something I desperately want to avoid,” he commented, “but without any financial relief, meeting our budget needs seems impossible without reducing officers, staff, and therefore, our services.”

“We cannot police on a shoestring, and the people in this county deserve better,” he asserted. The force is now rigorously exploring how to achieve these necessary savings, though Mr. Gibson acknowledges it is likely to have a negative impact on communities and could result in job losses.

Despite the financial constraints, Mr. Gibson noted that the force continues to respond effectively, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period, striving to protect people and maintain community safety. Announcing the provisional settlement of £17.4 billion for forces in England and Wales for 2025-26, Ms. Cooper stated that the government is “providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.”

 

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