PCC response to Government Spending Review

25th November 2020

Mark Burns-Williamson West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said:

“Overall the implications for police funding appear to fall well short of what is required to sustain front line policing services in West Yorkshire.

“Whilst recognising the challenges created by Covid-19 it’s particularly disappointing that Government have not recognised the sterling efforts of police officers and staff throughout this period who are not being rewarded with a deserved pay rise despite putting themselves in harms way on a daily basis on all our behalf’s.

“It’s also unclear if the full commitment to the recruitment of police officer numbers is being met within the initial figures announced today. What is clear is that many other staff roles within policing such as PCSO’s, call handlers, scenes of crime roles, etc are not covered which will mean difficult decisions ahead unless further funding is announced by Government and not once again passing more of the burden on to local taxpayers who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“I briefed a number of local MPs last week and I hope they will be challenging this situation during the Parliamentary debates in the coming weeks before the policing settlement is finalised.”