👮 Police Grant Report

• The Police Grant Report for 2025-26 was approved, providing up to £19.6 billion in total funding for policing in England and Wales, marking an increase of £1.1 billion from the previous year.
• The report includes £17.5 billion for local police forces, with an additional £1.1 billion to maintain officer numbers, aiming to support the recruitment of more officers, PCSOs, and special constables.
• The government has doubled the funding for neighbourhood policing to £200 million, emphasizing the importance of visible and accessible policing in communities.
• Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the funding settlement, with some police forces potentially facing budget shortfalls despite the increased allocation.
• Criticisms focused on the inclusion of £230 million to cover increased national insurance contributions, which was seen by some as offsetting rather than increasing police funding.
• There were calls for a review of the police funding formula, which many argued does not adequately account for the needs of rural and urban areas.
• The debate highlighted the impact of previous cuts on policing levels and community safety, with the government promising to rebuild neighbourhood policing and address crime issues like shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
• The increase in funding is expected to help in areas like counter-terrorism and to support initiatives to reduce violence against women and girls and tackle knife crime.

The parliamentary session on police funding exhibits significant disagreement, primarily between the government (Labour) and the opposition (Conservatives). The level of disagreement can be categorized as high based on several instances noted throughout the session.

1. Funding Concerns and Accusations: The key disagreement revolves around the adequacy of the police funding settlement. The shadow Minister, Matt Vickers, asserts that the government’s funding is inadequate and criticizes the national insurance increase, labeling it as a ‘tax raid’ that redirects funds away from police forces. He claims that the settlement will not prevent cuts in police numbers, stating:
   • “The funding settlement put forward by the Government is inadequate.”
   • “The cash increase is not enough to cover new financial pressures, the biggest of which have been created by the Government.”
2. Political Allegations: There are sharp exchanges over political responsibility and past records. For instance, Gareth Snell accuses Matt Vickers of hypocrisy and not speaking out against similar or worse cuts under the previous government:
   • “The shadow Minister, like so many Conservative Members, was supportive of the health and social care levy, which was a larger and more wide-ranging increase in national insurance than anything proposed by this Government.”
3. Policy Critiques: Disagreements extend to policy effectiveness and funding priorities. The opposition is vocal about their concerns that the settlement cannot sustain police forces adequately, with Matt Vickers repeatedly questioning the minister on various issues, such as the impact on response times if officers are reassigned:
   • “Will the Minister be honest and acknowledge that in order to achieve what has been outlined, officers will need to be reassigned?”
4. Interruptions and Points of Order: The session includes numerous interruptions and clarifications, showing tense exchanges and a high level of disagreement. For example, Jess Phillips responds strongly to Matt Vickers’ comments, defending the government’s position and highlighting the challenges inherited from the previous administration:
   • “I cannot believe that it is being argued that our police forces were not completely and utterly decimated under the last government.”
5. Evidence of Continual Debate: The debate doesn’t resolve the disputes but sees ongoing efforts by government speakers to justify their funding decisions while opposition speakers express strong dissent. This continuous back-and-forth, with opposition critiques being met with firm rebuttals, indicates deep disagreement:
   • “Like so much about this Government, they promise one thing to win an election and do completely the opposite when they are in charge.”
6. Specific Instances: Multiple Members from various constituencies voice concerns about the funding formula and its insufficient adjustments to rural and urban variations, further highlighting disagreement:
   • Edward Morello from West Dorset criticizes the funding formula for not considering rural demands sufficiently, and Andy McDonald from Middlesbrough highlights the disproportional impact on his local force.

Overall, the session is marked by strong opposition from the Conservatives against the Labour government’s police funding settlement, with accusations of inadequate funding, mismanagement, and policy failures. The debates include heated exchanges, direct challenges to statements and policy justifications, and a clear division between the government’s narrative and that of the opposition, resulting in a high level of disagreement.