Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell’s budget plans approved
06.02.25 - Merseyside
Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell’s police precept proposals for 2025-26 have been unanimously approved by Merseyside Police and Crime Panel, the independent body which scrutinises her work.
In securing an efficient and effective police service for Merseyside, the Police Commissioner is responsible for setting the police precept and a balanced budget for the force. The Police Service is funded by Government grants and the police precept, which is collected as part of the council tax.
In December 2024 the Government announced that its funding plans for policing included an increase in the police precept of £14 a year for a Band D property in 2025-26. In Merseyside this equates to an extra 18 pence a week for a Band A property – the majority of properties in Merseyside are in Band A - and an additional 27 pence a week for a Band D property.
A public consultation conducted found that 61% of people, from a representative sample of residents across Merseyside, supported an increase in the amount of council tax they pay towards local policing.
Presenting her proposals to the panel, Emily Spurrell highlighted some of the serious pressures affecting the budget including nationally set pay awards and national insurance increases, and inflation.
It was noted that the most recent PEEL Inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMRCFRS) found that Merseyside Police has effective financial management, makes the best use of the funding available, and has ambitious, yet sustainable financial plans.
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “Like other public sector organisations we are still dealing with the impact of years of crippling funding cuts. Despite the police uplift programme introduced by the previous Government in 2019, Merseyside Police still has 450 fewer officers than it did in 2010.
“Without this increase in the precept, even with the Government’s increased funding, the Chief Constable will be forced to find further savings, which could impact service delivery.
“I know that many household budgets are also stretched right now, so I am very grateful to local residents, and the panel, for their ongoing support. I will continue to lobby for increased and sustainable funding from Government for our region.
When I was re-elected as Police and Crime Commissioner last year, I said that Merseyside Police would continue to deliver the best possible policing service to the people of this brilliant region. This budget will support our work to build a safer, stronger Merseyside.”
The Commissioner also welcomed the Government’s announcement (31 Jan) that it is to double the amount of money dedicated to Neighbourhood Policing. This ring-fenced grant is designed to strengthen Neighbourhood Policing Teams, boost crime prevention and increase community safety.
Emily Spurrell said: “Neighbourhood Policing is the bedrock of British policing and a crucial tool for preventing crime and keeping communities safe. This additional funding will support my, and the Chief Constable’s, commitment for visible policing - in our neighbourhoods, on our streets and out and about in our town and City centres.
“Exactly what this new funding means to Merseyside will become clearer in the coming weeks, but it will help people to feel safer, and be safer, across the region.”
Following the panel’s unanimous endorsement of her precept proposal, the Police Commissioner will host a public meeting with the Chief Constable on the 20th February to formally consider the budget before giving it her final approval.