South Wales Police’s Budget Proposals Unveil Potential Increase in Policing Costs for Welsh Residents
South Wales Police have released budget proposals indicating a potential £26 or 7.37% increase in the precept for residents in the upcoming year. This increase would see residents in South Wales having to pay more for policing services. The proposed budget for South Wales Police would amount to £410.12 million, with £195.89 million sourced from the precept.
The breakdown of precept generation across different areas in South Wales includes £58.15 million for Cardiff, £35.99 million for Swansea, £21.07 million for Bridgend, £7.15 million for Merthyr Tydfil, £18.82 million for Neath Port Talbot, £30.46 million for Rhondda Cynon Taf, and £24.22 million for Vale of Glamorgan. The precept amount varies for different property bands, with Band A at £252.45, Band B at £294.52, Band C at £336.60, Band D at £378.67, Band E at £462.82, Band F at £546.97, Band G at £631.12, Band H at £757.34, and Band I at £883.56.
The budget plans, scheduled for discussion before the police and crime panel on Tuesday, February 4, reveal initial proposals for a £24 precept, leading to a projected £2 million budget deficit. To cover this shortfall, a decision has been made to remove 13 whole-time equivalent officers from the police officer establishment. However, with a remaining £1 million gap, the only viable option for the commissioner is to raise the precept by £26, considering that each £1 increase in precept translates to a £500,000 rise in revenue.
Comparatively, the proposed £26 (7.37%) increase in precept is noted to be the second-lowest among other Welsh forces. The report highlights that the police and crime commissioner, in collaboration with the chief constable and through public consultation, has meticulously reviewed the necessary precept level to either balance the budget or potentially compel further savings.
The budget challenges for 2025-26 outline various cost pressures, including £17 million in pay inflation, £2 million in “incremental drift”, £2 million in debt financing costs, £1 million in reduction in the vacancy factor, and £1 million in contract inflation. While an increase of £14.8 million in government funding from £228.7 million to £243.5 million may seem like progress, the report reveals a real-terms cut in funding for the upcoming year.
Additionally, the report underscores that the police settlement for 2025-26 entails no provision for capital expenditure, placing the burden on the revenue budget through direct contributions to capital or borrowing costs. Unavoidable cost pressures have resulted in a budget gap of £13.5 million, prior to considering any precept increase, against a backdrop of £72 million in previous savings by the force since 2011-12.
Acknowledging the financial constraints, the force has initiated a value-for-money program and realised significant productivity gains. In a bid to achieve budget balance, the chief constable has approved a reduction of 13 whole-time equivalent officers, excluding neighbourhood and youth engagement officers. These austerity measures are aimed at addressing the budget deficit and ensuring operational efficiency within South Wales Police.