How would you spend the police budget?

GMPA Chairman, Councillor Paul Murphy and Chief Constable Peter Fahy launch this year’s Budget Simulator tool

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) it calling on people to tell them how they think the police budget should be spent.

The Authority has launched the ‘Budget Simulator’ website – an online tool that challenges people to create a budget for 2012/2013 by deciding how much money should be allocated to different policing departments while ensuring the total budget remains balanced.

The feedback people give will be considered by GMPA Members when they decide next year’s police budget in February 2012.

Councillor Paul Murphy, GMPA Chairman, said: “We are in a challenging situation and have to make savings of £134m by 2015. This means we’re going to have to make some tough decisions so it’s important we listen to the needs of the public. Their views will help us decide where resources should be focused, to ensure we are providing an efficient, effective police service to our communities.”

“Last year, almost 1,000 people took part in the consultation. The most popular choice for the 2011/12 budget was to increase the spend on Neighbourhood Policing by five per cent. In response, we have invested additional resources in this area and remain committed to embedding neighbourhood policing teams within our communities.”

Website visitors click their desired options – more or less cash in a particular area – to decide next year’s allocations. Once they have made their choices, the consequences of their decisions are shown. After reading the consequences, users can return to their budget and change their choices as many times as they like before submitting their final budget.

The Budget Simulator website closes on Sunday 18 December 2011. All responses will then be analysed and shared with GMPA Members before deciding the annual budget. Participants will also be entered into a prize draw.

http://www.budgetsimulator.com/GMPA