Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has raised serious concerns about the financial challenges facing London’s police force, warning of potential “eye-watering cuts” to services if funding is not increased.
Currently, the Metropolitan Police’s annual budget stands at just over £3.5 billion, which includes £2.6 billion from central government and £956 million from local taxes. However, Rowley believes the force is in a “precarious position” due to years of financial constraints.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Rowley highlighted several critical issues affecting the police force’s financial stability. He explained that traditional methods of balancing the budget, such as selling police stations and using financial reserves, have been exhausted. The cumulative effect of financial decisions over the past decade has left the force struggling, with some buildings potentially becoming unusable in the near future without significant investment.
Rowley emphasized the unique challenges of policing a global capital like London, noting that per-person funding is lower compared to other major cities such as New York and Sydney. He stressed that the scale of potential budget changes cannot be absorbed through efficiency savings alone.
The Home Office budget is set to shrink by 3.3% next year, primarily from anticipated asylum support savings. While the government has indicated plans to increase the core government grant for police forces, the details remain unclear, particularly regarding whether this increase will account for inflation.
The Met Commissioner suggested he will outline 10-20 specific changes the force plans to implement before Christmas, with more details about the implications for London policing becoming public in the coming weeks. He is currently in ongoing discussions with the government and City Hall about the funding allocation for the next fiscal year.
Rowley described himself as “deeply troubled” by the current funding situation, indicating that without additional resources, the force will be forced to make significant cuts to its services. These potential cuts could dramatically impact policing capabilities in London.
Interestingly, before the recent election, the Labour Party proposed saving £360 million through more efficient police equipment purchasing, with plans to reinvest those savings into additional community support officers.
The government has maintained that it plans to increase the overall policing budget, though specific allocations for individual forces are still under negotiation. The chancellor has acknowledged the difficult public sector context, suggesting that financial challenges are not unique to the Metropolitan Police.
As negotiations continue, Sir Mark Rowley remains vocal about the critical need for increased funding to maintain effective policing in London, warning that without substantial financial support, the Met Police’s ability to serve the capital could be significantly compromised.
