Lincolnshire Police job cuts delayed until Autumn after Government agrees £5.7million funding

Job cuts at Lincolnshire Police have been halted after a short-term funding package worth £5.7million has been delivered.

The Government has agreed the funding package along with the promise of continuing to hold talks on the long-term funding issues faced by the county’s force after months of lobbying by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.

Earlier this year, Chief Constable Paul Gibson warned of having to axe 200 frontline officers along with 200 backroom staff along with the ‘imminent withdrawal of core services’ as he faced up to a £14million financial black hole.

But he is now holding off on these plans until the autumn after an agreement was confirmed by Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention Diane Johnson.

Mr Jones said today the news was “exceptionally positive” and would stave off most financial pressures until the autumn – but reiterated the need for a long-term funding solution.

He said: “This is very welcome news for communities across Lincolnshire and I am delighted that the minister and her officials have listened to our concerns and reacted positively,” he said.

“This funding package is certainly going to stave off the worst of the cuts facing Lincolnshire Police in the short term and give the Chief Constable and I more time to address the long-term

funding issues.

“I am not complacent though. This package is exceptionally positive but there is still much work to be done to ensure Lincolnshire Police is providing the most effective service possible for the funding we do have available.

“We have heard in recent days of every force across England gaining funding to recruit additional neighbourhood officers but this will not be happening here in Lincolnshire. Yet again the gap grows larger between our situation and the rest of the country which is simply unsustainable. The additional funding coming here will simple contribute to avoiding losing some of what we already have.

“There is much to be done to solve the funding issues for the long term and I would not want the public misled into thinking this matter is resolved or that the latest government announcement on ‘additional’ neighbourhood policing will change anything for us, it won’t.”

The package of measures including special grants and upfront payments means the threat of significant cuts facing Lincolnshire Police has been delayed in the very short term.

The minister and Whitehall officials have agreed to continue talks when the Government’s spending review has been announced – which is expected to give a clearer picture on medium term public spending.

In her letter to the PCC the minister praised the “helpful and constructive approach” of the talks and welcomed an opportunity to “continue our engagement on these issues”.

Chief Constable Paul Gibson said: “I am pleased that the Policing Minister has acknowledged our challenging and unique position and has agreed an initial financial support package, following positive engagement with the Home Office.

“It remains our ambition to secure a long-term, sustainable agreement that addresses our chronic underfunding.

“There is more work to do, but I am reassured that the Home Office have given assurances they will continue to work with us to collectively seek a solution.”

Mr Jones has also suspended the High Court action against the Home Office to concentrate on the constructive and positive discussions regarding the long term funding of Lincolnshire Police.

The Judicial Review looking at whether the continued use of the national policing funding allocation was lawful was successful in a hearing in March and set to proceed to a full hearing in June which will now not take place.