The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has criticised the government’s proposed police funding settlement for 2026–27, warning it could lead to fewer officers on the streets and higher costs for local taxpayers.
Donna Jones said the settlement, announced just days before Christmas, is significantly lower than expected and fails to provide certainty for forces that delivered on the Police Uplift Programme. She said it also lacks clarity on how national policing priorities will be funded.
Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said:
“The government’s funding settlement for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is a shock. I am extremely disappointed that, with no notice, we have received a settlement from the Home Office that is less than expected. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is being penalised for stepping up to deliver the Police Uplift Programme when other forces fell short.
“I have ensured the force has been able to recruit an extra 815 police officers over the last four years, paid for by the Home Office and local taxpayers. The ongoing investment to maintain these numbers has not been confirmed like it has in previous years which means once again, the government is expecting local taxpayers to foot the bill; less policing, more tax. That is the reality of this week’s announcement.”
She added that while the Home Secretary announced a 4.2% police pay rise for 2025, the Home Office had previously committed to funding any increase above 2.8%. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the pay rise equates to £16 million, yet the grant settlement represents only a 2.59% increase, meaning the full cost will not be covered.
She said:
“With CPI inflation running at over 3%, a grant increase of 2.59% represents a cut to government funding of policing in real terms.”
The commissioner also raised concerns about the lack of warning or impact assessment accompanying the announcement, warning that officer numbers could be at risk nationwide. She added:
“Across the country, thousands of police officer posts may now be at risk. Britain will inevitably have fewer police on the streets, leading to more crime and greater fear of crime in our communities.”
Jones said she would work to protect policing levels locally:
“I want to reassure the public that I will do everything possible to ensure operational policing and officer numbers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are protected. Communities have invested heavily in policing, and I will fight to protect that investment.”
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) has echoed these concerns, warning that the settlement does not explain how government priorities such as tackling knife crime and violence against women and girls will be funded. The APCC has also highlighted the absence of funding for capital investment needed to modernise policing as demand continues to rise.
Key figures for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
- 2025–26 government grant: £292.9 million
- 2026–27 government grant: £300.5 million
- Increase: £7.6 million (2.59%)