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Overview

This bill aims to ensure that police forces in England and Wales receive sufficient funding to effectively carry out their duties. It amends the Police Act 1996 to establish a statutory duty for the Secretary of State to ensure adequate funding and introduces an independent body to annually review the adequacy of police grants.

Description

The bill makes key changes to the Police Act 1996. It introduces a new subsection (46(1A)) that legally requires the Secretary of State to ensure police grants provide sufficient resources for preventing crime, pursuing and prosecuting offenders, maintaining order, and protecting and reassuring the public. Further, it mandates that the Secretary of State considers several factors when determining grant amounts: the latest police and crime plans, the latest report from an independent body evaluating police funding, and the need for contingency funding for major incidents.

Independent Review Body

The bill establishes an independent body to annually review and report on the adequacy of police grants. This body will assess whether the grants comply with the new requirements and whether funding for national security is sufficient. The Secretary of State must appoint this body within six months of the Act passing.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly allocate any specific sum of money. Instead, it mandates a review process to ensure existing and future government spending on police grants is sufficient to meet the outlined policing objectives. The ultimate impact on government spending will depend on the findings of the independent review body and subsequent decisions by the Secretary of State.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Police forces in England and Wales: The bill directly impacts their funding levels and the requirements for justifying their resource needs.
• The Secretary of State: The bill places a new statutory duty on the Secretary of State to ensure adequate police funding and to consider specific factors when distributing grants.
• Police and Crime Commissioners: Their police and crime plans will directly influence the grant allocation process.
• The public: The bill aims to improve policing services and public safety through ensuring adequate resources for police forces. The independent body’s reports will provide transparency on how this is achieved.
• The independent review body: This newly created body will have significant responsibilities in scrutinizing police funding.