West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s statement on Home Office announcement of police numbers recruitment target for first year

9th October 2019

West Yorkshire Police has been allocated 256 officers out of the first tranche of 6,000 nationally and expects the numbers to be around 800 over the coming three years, depending the outcome of any funding formula review. 

Since 2010, West Yorkshire has lost 2,000 officers and staff and more than £140million from its budget.

Mark Burns-Williamson (PCC) said: "Whilst I acknowledge these extra resources, a lot of work needs to be done to get to the numbers we had back in 2010. We also need clarity as to exactly how the officers are going to be funded so that we can plan ahead properly on top of the officers and staff to be recruited through the Police Council tax.

"The 256 is 4.2 percent in line with our share of current grant funding, but we don't yet know our share of the national 20,000 over the next 3 years, and it will take time to restore our numbers to anywhere near where we were in 2010.

"I am concerned that resources have been allocated using a formula that doesn't take into account crime threat and individual needs of forces as we face significant demands being an area of complex challenges and diversity across the five districts of West Yorkshire.

"I have been saying for some time that the current funding formula is outdated, doesn't match the current patterns of demand and the next tranches of funding should be based on a revised formula, as areas like West Yorkshire have lost out by millions of pounds for years.

"I will continue to fight for a fairer funding deal for West Yorkshire, our county, to ensure we are doing all we can to keep our communities safe and to ensure we get on and recruit new officers as quickly as we can so that the benefits can be felt on our streets and in our communities."