The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Alison Hernandez, has written to the home secretary and the policing minister raising concerns about the proposed policing funding settlement for 2026/27.
The PCC has warned that the settlement leaves Devon & Cornwall Police facing a projected budget shortfall of around £3 million next year, even if council tax is increased to the maximum level permitted.
Despite being one of the most financially stable police forces in the country, Devon and Cornwall has received one of the lowest provisional funding settlements nationally.
“Across England and Wales, the average grant increase for policing is 3.3%,” said Ms Hernandez. “However, in Devon and Cornwall, based on information provided so far, that figure is estimated to be 2.3%.
“Only three policing areas in England have had a lower provisional settlement than Devon and Cornwall. This leaves me with an anticipated shortfall of around £3m.”
The announcement of the settlement in December was made without full detail and without the usual consultation process, says the PCC, placing significant pressure on local governance arrangements.
With key information still missing, the PCC has warned that it will be extremely difficult to provide the certainty required by the Police and Crime Panel ahead of its statutory meeting at the end of January. Then, councillors will have the opportunity to veto the commissioner’s proposal for the police part of the council tax — the policing precept.
The PCC said: “This settlement demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding by government of how police governance works and the timescales we are required to operate within. My team has been left trying to second-guess decisions that should have been clearly communicated months ago.”
Despite delivering more than £6m in planned efficiencies next year, the PCC says any funding gap may affect the ability of the Chief Constable to maintain policing services at current levels.
