Police grants: Government “passing the buck” with council tax rises to pay for extra officers

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The Liberal Democrats have said the government is “passing the buck” over police funding, with over half of the extra money announced today either coming from proposed council tax rises or being swallowed up by the National Insurance tax hike.

Of the £986.8m of extra funding for police announced today in the Provisional Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2025-26, around a quarter or £230.3m is just to cover the government’s National Insurance tax rise. Another £329.8m is based on extra council tax, and assumes that all Police and Crime Commissioners will raise their precept by the maximum permitted of £14 for Band D.

This means the extra Government cash to forces is only £426.8m - half the amount the Home Office is claiming.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:

“Years of failure and ineffective resourcing from the previous Conservative government decimated neighbourhood policing - taking officers off our streets and leaving our communities far less safe.

“The government should be stepping up to fix this by properly funding the officers our communities need  - not passing the buck to local police chiefs to put up people’s council tax instead.

“Liberal Democrats will keep pushing for the proper frontline policing our communities deserve.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor: The Provisional Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2025-26 can be found here.