Don’t repeat funding formula fiasco, Commissioner warns

Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissione

Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has demanded the government sorts out the funding crisis for policing.

Earlier this week the plans to reform the police funding formula had to be abandoned after a catalogue of errors by Home Office officials.

Mr Lloyd has written to the Policing Minister, Mike Penning, to outline further concerns about funding for policing ahead of the comprehensive spending review later this month.

He said: “This has been a complete shambles from the outset. We warned the government that their proposals for police funding had not been properly thought through and the farce over the past week shows that we were right.

“Our communities need, expect and deserve a police service that can deliver what is expected of it. That makes it vital that policing is funded in a fair, open and sustainable way. As we approach the spending review, it is important that the government learns from its mistakes and ensures that we get a fair deal for policing.

“The people of Greater Manchester demand nothing less.”

Mr Lloyd has also written to the Shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, and all of Greater Manchester’s MPs and councillors to ask for their support.