Police in Rugby facing £950,000 real-terms spending cuts in 2018

Police in Rugby are facing a real-terms cut of £950,000 in 2018, Rugby Liberal Democrats have revealed.

In December, the Government announced that core funding for police budgets will remain exactly the same as last year.

Taking into account inflation, that means Warwickshire Police will face a real-terms cut of £950,000.

The additional £270m of funding the Government claims to be investing in the police nationally depends entirely on local Police and Crime Commissioners raising the police precept in their areas, which the Liberal Democrats have branded a "stealth council tax rise."

Lib Dems want to increase community policing by investing an extra £300 million a year in local police forces.

Commenting, Councillor Bill Lewis (Rokeby & Overslade), said:

"The Conservatives are ignoring calls from senior officers to increase investment in our Police. The impact of this cut in police budgets will be felt in our communities and in our streets. With crime rising, the Government should have increased police budgets in real terms."