PCC warns of £3m policing funding shortfall under proposed settlement

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has written to the Home Secretary and the Policing Minister to raise serious concerns about the government’s proposed policing funding settlement for 2026–27.
Alison Hernandez has warned that the provisional settlement would leave Devon and Cornwall Police facing a projected budget shortfall of around £3 million next year, even if council tax is increased to the maximum level allowed. 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 in England.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said:
“Across England and Wales the average grant increase for policing is 3.3%, 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 £3millon.”
The funding announcement, made in December, was issued without full detail and outside the usual consultation process, according to the PCC. She says the lack of clarity has placed significant pressure on local governance arrangements, particularly with a statutory Police and Crime Panel meeting scheduled for the end of January, when councillors will be able to scrutinise and potentially veto the proposed policing precept.
Alison Hernandez 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.”
The PCC said that despite plans to deliver more than £6 million in efficiencies next year, any remaining funding gap could affect the Chief Constable’s ability to maintain current levels of policing services.
Over recent years, Devon and Cornwall has strongly backed the government’s drive to increase police officer numbers. Officer strength in the force now stands at a record 3,610. However, the PCC said the provisional settlement appears to penalise the force for this success by removing base funding for those officers.
“Our communities deserve visible, effective policing. We have worked hard, alongside local taxpayers, to increase officer numbers to their highest level ever. It is deeply concerning that we now appear to be punished for doing exactly what government asked of us.”
The PCC also highlighted long-standing concerns about the police funding formula, which she says continues to disadvantage rural and coastal areas. Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly face challenges linked to rurality, sparsity and a large seasonal influx of tourists, yet are set to receive a grant increase around one per cent lower than the national average.
Local council taxpayers already fund 43 per cent of the total cost of policing in the area, a proportion significantly higher than in many other parts of the country.
“Policing is meant to be a universal service, yet once again our residents are being asked to shoulder an unfair share of the burden. Many families are already under immense financial pressure, and I do not believe it is fair for the only option to be to ask people to pay even more. I have always committed to our local taxpayers that if they pay more they get more. My concern is that, for the first time, I’m going to have to ask people to pay more to get the same or less.”
In her letter, the PCC has urged the Home Office to provide the missing information urgently and to review the funding formula to address what she describes as ongoing inequity, warning that failure to do so could lead to further pressure on frontline policing services.