My constituents here in South Holland and the Deepings rely for their security on the power of law and the preservation of order. Both depend upon the brave officers of Lincolnshire Police who do such vital work to keep us all safe. So, Lincolnshire’s Chief Constable’s stark warning of a looming reduction in core services and the potential loss of 200 police officers should alarm us all.
It is simply unacceptable that one of the lowest-funded police forces in the country is once again being left to face cuts because an unfair national funding formula continues to cripple our local constabulary. Introduced by Tony Blair, during the last Labour Government in 2006, the formula favours metropolitan areas over rural counties like ours. Aware that disproportionate resources for urban forces means that Lincolnshire loses out year after year, for all my time as an MP, I have led overtures to change this with successive policing Ministers, in Governments of all flavours. Through pressing them, we have achieved some success in getting short-term capital, but the fundamental systemic problem remains.
The safety and security of the people of Lincolnshire cannot be put at risk due to underfunding, which is why I, and other Lincolnshire MPs, have - yet again - taken urgent action to address the threat of a reduction in police numbers. Having written to the Policing Minister setting out the dire consequences of inaction to demand an urgent intervention to prevent the loss of officers which would leave communities exposed to the dangers of crime. I have also made the case to her in person, as have the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner.
Convening a meeting in Parliament with my fellow Lincolnshire MPs to highlight the injustice of our county's police funding and organise collective action in our fight for a fairer deal, just last week, I met our Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss a way forward which protects our local police force from further cuts.
The essence of our case is that Lincolnshire Police has a budget gap of £14 million, forcing a potential reduction in the number of police officers, bringing the total down to 1,000 officers by 2028-29, alongside which, without more funds, the upcoming police officer intake in March will be cancelled. We need a short-term solution to avoid this, but, most of all, we must find a long term-solution that changes the funding formula to end recurring financial crises. Only a fully resourced constabulary can respond swiftly to emergencies, investigate crimes effectively, and patrol our streets.
Beyond the total budget, police productivity is about priorities. As the character of crime evolves, policing is changing too. The British public rightly expects their officers to catch burglars, tackle everyday felonies, and ensure that order prevails, but much illegality, perpetuated online, is now organised by criminal networks. Locally, good work by police officers and Trading Standards has targeted foreign shops selling illegal cigarettes. Far from trivial, this illegality is propagated by organised gangs that launder money through such outlets. Similarly illegal hare coursing, which has been a persistent bane to our communities is linked to organised crime.
Time and money, both evidently in short supply, must not be diverted from the fight against the kind of crimes that blight lives. Not a penny of resources should be wasted on the policing of so-called 'thought crimes' — an absurd distraction from real police priorities. Neither should the police waste money on expensive translation services beyond what is strictly legally necessary.
With the policer so short of funds, it is crucial that the Home Office now honours their agreement and reimburse the moneys spent to secure RAF Scampton for housing asylum seekers. Though that plan has been abandoned, the police spent much time and resources on the project, yet just a fraction of what is owed has been paid. As of February, Lincolnshire Police had only received £136,000 of a promised £4 million from the Home Office - our hardworking police men and women deserve nothing less.
The people of Lincolnshire have the right to be safe. They need a well-resourced, effective and efficient police force to be so.