GMP chief speaks out after 'incredibly challenging' police budget confirmed

'We're ready for whatever comes next'

Greater Manchester Police is 'ready for whatever comes next', its top cop has said amid an 'incredibly challenging' policing budget.

Rachel Reeves revealed today (June 11) that policing 'spending power' will increase by a yearly-average of 2.3 per cent in real-terms. It comes after police forces across the country, including GMP, raised concerns that cuts will be needed if funding does not rise enough.

The Chancellor said the extra cash for police forces will allow Labour to fulfil its manifesto pledge of introducing 13,000 extra officers.

It follows fraught negotiations with the Home Office which was the last government department to settle its budget this week.

Responding to the news, National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Gavin Stephens described the outcome as 'incredibly challenging'.

He said: "In real terms, today’s increase in funding will cover little more than annual inflationary pay increases for officers and staff.

"Whilst we await further detail on allocation to individual forces, the amount falls far short of what is required to fund the Government’s ambitions and maintain our existing workforce.

"A decade of underinvestment has left police forces selling buildings, borrowing money and raising local taxes to maintain the what we already have, with forces facing a projected shortfall of £1.2bn over the next two years, which is now expected to rise.

"This is against a backdrop of increasing crime rates, with new and escalating threats from organised crime and hostile states, and more offenders being managed in the community as a result of an overstretched criminal justice system.

"Cutting crime isn’t just about officer numbers – we need specialist skills and people, supported with the right systems and technology, to better protect communities.

"We fully support the Government’s drive to cut crime and grow officer numbers, but for these to succeed, investment in policing must live up to the ambition."

Asked about concerns raised by policing figures, Ms Reeves told the BBC: "We’re not able to do everything that everyone would want, but real-terms spending power increases for the police of 2.3 per cent a year, above inflation, enabling us to deliver on the commitments we made in our manifesto."

GMP's chief constable Stephen Watson has now given his reaction to the news. He said: "This year Greater Manchester Police has reduced crime in Greater Manchester by 7.2 per cent, with a 70 per cent increase in the number of crimes solved.

"The communities we serve can be confident that GMP will continue delivering these ever-improving results regardless of funding settlements.

"Our results are not built on ever-increasing budgets – they are built on a relentless focus on basic policing, professional excellence, smart resource management, and unwavering commitment to public service.

"Greater Manchester Police is well-positioned to meet whatever challenges may lie ahead for us.

"We have taken a proactive approach to financial planning to position ourselves well for the future, and are making decisions that allow us to be more efficient through the use of better technology, developing revenue streams that will allow us to work more efficiently and effectively – saving time and delivering a better response to our communities time and time again.

"The Spending Review provides clarity on the national picture, but it won't change our local determination to be the best police force in the country. We're ready for whatever comes next."