Alun Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government & Public Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Today, I am publishing proposals for the Welsh Government component of funding to Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales for 2018-19. These include the provisional allocations of core revenue funding for each of the 4 Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.
Whilst policing policy is not devolved, funding for the Welsh police forces is delivered through a 3-way arrangement involving the Home Office, the Welsh Government and council tax.
A common needs-based formula, operated by the Home Office, is used to distribute funding across English and Welsh police forces, and the approach to setting and distributing the Welsh Government component of police funding provision is based on a principle of ensuring consistency and fairness across England and Wales.
As in recent years, the Home Office has again decided to overlay its needs-based formula with a floor mechanism. This ensures all police forces in England and Wales can expect to receive a cash flat settlement for 2018-19 when compared on a like-for-like basis with 2017-18.
The total support for police forces in Wales will be £349.9m. Within this, I propose to set the Welsh Government’s contribution to police funding for 2018 19 at £140.9m. Today’s announcement marks the start of a consultation period which will end on 16 January 2018. Following this, allocations may be revised for the Final Settlement.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.