§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the police funding formula for South Yorkshire; and what assessment he has made of its effect.
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§ Mr. MacleanUnder the Government's proposals announced on 1 December, £146.22 million will be available to the South Yorkshire police in 1995–96.
The new police funding formula has bee constructed by considering the determinants of the need for policing. The approach is similar—but more developed—to that of the formula which has been used since 1990 to distribute additional manpower to forces. Police needs are identified as falling into six main areas—maintaining a stable presence in the community, responding to calls for assistance, dealing with crimes, traffic management, maintaining public order, and community relations. Police pensions are also taken into account.
The new analyses were considered in the context of factors that have previously been used to assess expenditure needs. We concluded that, for 1995–96, the size of approved police establishments should be included in the formula. As a result, the extent of change next year will be limited.