Annual Report 23/24 Accessible Version

Secure the funding that Kent needs through specific grants and the funding formula review

As PCC, all funding for policing in Kent and Medway comes through my office including that which I give to the Chief Constable to deliver policing. I have always argued that the funding formula is out of date and inherently unfair on some PCC areas; Kent is one of those areas.

There was no clearer representation of this than the distribution of government funding for the 2023/24 pay award. As funding was allocated based on the existing funding formula and not on actual police officer numbers, one area with 900 fewer officers than Kent Police received approximately £12.0m more in funding.

I sent a letter to the then Chancellor, Jeremey Hunt for consideration ahead of the Autumn Statement 2023 requesting; the implementation of a new formula to be brought forward; for PCCs to receive a power of competency to enable revenue generating opportunities; and continued funding for BlueLight Commercial to explore further possibilities to save revenue across policing nationally.

Throughout the year, I have actively raised this issue at national forums and meetings including through the Association of PCCs (APCC). My Chief Executive (CEX) and Chief Finance Officer (CFO) have also fed into regional discussions and national mechanisms via the Association of Policing and Crime Chief Executives (APACE) and the Police and Crime Commissioners Treasurers’ Society (PACCTS). In addition, my CFO and CEX, along with the force’s CFO have held regular meetings with HO officials to discuss funding issues and the unique challenges of policing the county. I am also grateful for the support of the Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel who wrote to the Government to highlight the inequity in the funding formula.

The previous Government’s plans to review the Police Funding Formula were effectively ‘timed’ out’ due to the General Election in July 2024. The new Government has launched a Comprehensive Spending Review to be announced in Spring 2025, so work on the funding formula is still on hold. However, my senior OPCC staff and I will continue to engage with Ministers and officials to set out the case for Kent to ensure the review is not forgotten and the county receives a fair share of national police funding.

Notwithstanding the issues with core government funding, funding opportunities do arise during the year, and I have been successful in bidding for additional funding.

My Commissioning team are tasked with identifying and applying for funding opportunities and attracted £3,172,439 of additional funding to my Commissioning budget for 2023/24 to deliver victim services, Safer Streets, and DA perpetrator interventions.

The services I commission, and grant fund range from community-based organisations that provide diversionary activities through to multi-year contracts that provide support to victims regardless of when the crime took place or if it was reported to the police. The additional funding was for specific service delivery during the year and meant the Commissioning budget was 93% greater than in 2015/16.

The force also continues to attract funding outside of government, although these funds tend to be time limited or specialist posts which means recruitment can be difficult. I have challenged the Chief Constable to maximise the use of external funding, and I monitor and scrutinise this on a regular basis.