Most people, when asked how they feel about the level of crime in their neighbourhood, believe the police are under-funded.
Overall two-thirds, 68% of respondents to a recent survey, do not think Gloucestershire Constabulary has sufficient resources to address their concerns around crime. And they feel strongly where more investment is needed.
Among the issues raised, which concerned those who answered an online questionnaire regarding their perception of crime most, were drugs, burglary, anti-social behaviour, speeding, street drinking, rural crime and organised crime.
“We cannot spend money we don’t have”
The ‘Perception of Crime’ survey was carried-out by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and is available in full here: The results were analysed independently and presented to the county’s Police and Crime Panel.
Commissioner Chris Nelson said, “That the police are under-funded was felt right across the county, with no significant differences of opinion in any of our six local authority districts.
“It is generally accepted that the formula the Government uses to work out how much money each force should get, is unfair on Gloucestershire – and many other forces. It’s something I have campaigned strongly about, and will continue to do so in the New Year.
“But until that changes, the Police have to work within their means just like everyone else. We cannot spend money we don’t have”.
When respondents were asked ‘if more money were available to Gloucestershire Constabulary, where would you want it spent?’ the words occurring most frequently were; ‘more’, ‘police’, ‘officers’, ‘patrol / patrols / patrolling’, ‘presence’, ‘local’, ‘policing’, ‘crime’, ‘visible’ and ‘community’.
“Any extra investment the public want to make will have to come out of council tax”
Mr. Nelson, who is currently drawing-up the policing budget for the next financial year, said: “Clear patterns emerge from this survey around police presence and visibility, as well as tackling issues relating to deprivation, traffic issues and prevention.
“It comes as no surprise because, speaking to residents on the doorstep has given me a good feeling for what people want to see the police doing. But it doesn’t alter the fact that at the heart of everything is the question of funding.
“With the cost of policing in Gloucestershire split almost equally between Central Government and local tax payers, any extra investment the public want to make will have to come out of council tax – though that too is limited by the Government.
“I will be producing a budget that will help the Constabulary provide the service the public deserves and wants to see, but at a cost it can afford”.
The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp MP, announced in December that the Government grant for Gloucestershire in 2024/25 will be £83.556m – an increase of 8.0%. However, that increase is swallowed up by pay, pensions and price increases, although £1m is contributing to recruiting more officers for the county.
The Government has also said that Police and Crime Commissioners will be permitted to raise the Police Precept by a maximum of £13, which would be £2 less than the maximum allowed for this financial year, due to cost of living pressures.
The PCC will seek approval for his budget at the next police and crime panel meeting in February.