Police finance
Police forces in England and Wales are each given funding from three main sources.
These sources are the Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government OR the Welsh Assembly Government, and the police precept component of local council tax.
In addition to government grants and police precept, police authorities also generate income for themselves from charging for policing commercial events (includes sporting and entertainment but excludes charity and some small community events) and from investments (both interest and dividends).
Here is:
- details of how much money government has given to police forces since 1995
- an explanation of how the Home Office allocates funding between forces
Historical police revenue funding
- Central government police revenue funding technical description - 1995
- Central government police revenue data
Police allocation formula
The government uses the police allocation formula to distribute the main police grant.
Provisional police allocations 2012-13
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Allocations of grant to police authorities in England and Wales 2012-13
- Allocations of grant to police authorities in England and Wales - Written ministerial statement published 31 January 2012
Financial management code of practice
On 16 January 2012, the financial management code of practice (for police and crime commissioners and chief constables) was laid in parliament. The Code provides clarity around the financial governance arrangements within the police service in England and Wales and builds on the Policing Protocol issued by means of the Policing Protocol Order 2011.
The written ministerial statement was issued to accompany the guidance.
The financial management code of practice (for police authorities and chief constables), published in 2000 remains useable until November 2012.
Police value for money
A high-level working group communication on police value for money was sent to forces and authorities on 21 April 2011 from Nick Herbert, the minister for policing and criminal justice.
This communication contains information covering the new policing value for money unit, as well as updates on procurement, the information systems improvement strategy (ISIS), support services and transformational change.
