Cumbria Police Authority Budget Forums

Cumbria Police Authority have been holding Liaison Forums across Cumbria focussing on the future of Policing in Cumbria.

Police Authority Treasurer Douglas Thomas, has been providing an overview of the financial settlement for the next four year period, the main message is, that as a consequence of the Government’s spending review, every class of local authority is required to make unprecedented savings.

Ray Cole, Cumbria Police Authority’s Chair, said “Due to the scale of reduction in grants to local authorities and police authorities cumbria police authority will be faced with a 12 million pound reduction in grants over the next four years, in order to balance the budget over this period, the Chief Constable will be expected to make savings of approximately 18.6 million, two thirds of this reduction will be within the first two years.

“There will have to be some tough decisions made regarding the future police budget, which will mean extremely demanding times ahead for Cumbria Constabulary.

“The liaison forums have provided an opportunity for people within Cumbria to gain an understanding of the impacts of the reduction in grants to Police Authorities.