South Yorkshire Police Budget Risen By 3% In 4 Years
The budget for police in South Yorkshire has increased marginally since 2015, despite community concerns in cities like Doncaster and Sheffield.
Sheffield’s Police budget increased just 3% over the last four years, in spite of inflation and increased need.
The budget, which covers salaries, uniforms, and essentials like stab-proof vests and other equipment, stood at £240,128,000 in 2015/16. Four years later, in 2019/20, the police budget fell to £247,571,000.
The data was sourced via a Freedom of Information request by media literacy charity The Student View.
The Home Office announced in January 2020 the Police Funding Settlement for 2020/21. The plan outlines that “the Government is proposing a total settlement for the policing system of up to £15.2 billion in 2020/21, which is an increase of up to £1,121 million compared to 2019/20.”
£700m of the funding will be set aside to onboard 6,000 new officers by the end of March 2021, something that the Home Office cites as “an almost 10% increase on the core grant provided to forces last year.