Police authority agrees budget and freezes precept

Date published: 18 February 2012

Greater Manchester Police Authority has agreed a budget that ‘continues to support operational and neighbourhood policing’ and freezes the police portion of council tax.

The amount allocated for policing in Greater Manchester during the next financial year is more than £560M.

This includes council tax contributions equivalent to £144.33 per Band D household, which is the same as the previous year.

Councillor Paul Murphy, Chairman of GMPA, said: “The last 12 months have been the most challenging for the Police Authority and the Force and we’ve had to make some tough decisions as we find savings of £134M by 2015. We have already delivered savings of more than £60M but we still have a long way to go.

“The budget set today will not only allow us to continue to drive savings, but it also protects local policing, with the investment in additional police staff posts to support neighbourhood and operational policing and the recruitment of 150 new police officers over the next three years.

“In the same way we are committed to minimising the impact the budget cuts have on the frontline service provided to the public, the Police Authority also want to minimise the impact on the public purse. This is why we have agreed to the council tax freeze grant which gives us an additional £3.5M grant from the Government. This will help us to maintain a quality service and continue to cut crime, without asking local people to pay more at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet.”

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “We are determined to do the best we can for the people of Greater Manchester despite the difficult situation.

"I want to thank the Authority for their support and agreeing the budget which will allow us to start recruiting again and to continue to reduce crime and disorder.

"Over the past year we have had to make fundamental changes so that we can maintain the service to the public as more than 1000 staff have left the Force. But this difficult financial situation will not distract us from dealing with criminals.”

This is the last budget to be approved by Greater Manchester Police Authority, which will be replaced by Police and Crime Commissioners in November 2012.

The budget is set following consultation with local residents and businesses, the Force, local authority leaders, local councillors and Greater Manchester MPs.