Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable to hold Public Budget Meeting 2025-26
18.02.25 - Merseyside
Emily Spurrell, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and Chief Constable Serena Kennedy will host a public meeting this week at which the budget for policing Merseyside in 2025-26 will be formally agreed.
In securing an efficient and effective police service for Merseyside, as Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell is responsible for setting a balanced budget for the force. This is funded by Government grants and the small portion of the council tax that the public pays towards policing - known as the ‘Police Precept’.
Setting a balanced budget for policing Merseyside is one of the Commissioner’s most critical roles and this public meeting follows the unanimous endorsement for her plans given by Merseyside Police and Crime Panel earlier this month.
Members of the Panel wholeheartedly supported the Commissioner’s budget plans, which included an 18 pence a week, or £9.33 pa increase in the police precept for a Band A property and an additional 27 pence a week (£14 pa) for a Band D property.
A public consultation conducted earlier this year found that 61% of people, from a representative sample of residents across Merseyside, were supportive of an increase in the amount they pay towards local policing.
The budget for 2025-26 reflects years of inadequate funding. There are also significant financial pressures to contend with including nationally set pay awards, national insurance increases and inflation, taking the net budget requirement for the year to £443.839m. This means, even with the increase in the police precept, there is a budget gap of £12.803m in 2025-26.
To bridge this gap and balance the budget the Chief Constable has identified savings of £2.225m and the Police Commissioner plans to utilise £7.005m of earmarked reserves/one-off funding. Despite this, the Chief Constable will be required to identify a further £3.573m of savings in 2025/26.
Emily Spurrell said: “This year the Home Office increased the amount of funding available to us, and the public has also supported increases in the amount they pay towards policing. I am grateful to our residents for their ongoing support particularly at a time when I know many household budgets are stretched.
“This year’s budget is designed to protect police officer and staff numbers and sustain the visible policing presence we all value so highly. It will also help the Force to continue its work to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The most recent crime figures show a drop of 13% in overall crime in the year ending 30 September 2024, with reductions in key crime types including violence, robbery, anti-social behaviour and burglary.
“This is why I will do everything I can to protect local policing and keep our communities safe. That includes my work consistently lobbying for increased and sustainable funding from the Government for our region.
“Anyone who is interested in police funding, where the money comes from and how it’s spent is welcome to attend this public meeting.”
The meeting will take place at 10.00am on Thursday 20 February 2025 at Merseyside Police Headquarters, Rose Hill, 15 Cazneau Street, Liverpool, L3 3AN.
Anyone wishing to attend to observe this meeting must register in advance either by email: info@merseysidepcc.info or calling 0151 777 5155.
View the agenda and reports which will be discussed at this public budget meeting here.