Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Crispin Blunt MP exposes Government cuts in funding for Surrey Police

In answering a Parliamentary Question from Crispin Blunt, Member of Parliament for Reigate, the Home Office has been forced to reveal the scale of the fall in funding for Surrey Police from Central Government since Labour came to power in 1997. In a written answer to a Parliamentary Question, Hazel Blears MP, the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety, revealed that while Council Tax per head of population has more than tripled since 1997 – a real terms increase of a staggering 192% - the Home Office Police Grant has fallen by 22% in real terms.

 Crispin Blunt commented:

‘Surrey has been sold short on schools, hospitals and it is now clear on police funding as well. In each case Council Taxpayers are having to pick up the bill or face further cuts.’

These figures have emerged at a time when Surrey Police Authority may soon vanish and be replaced with a larger regional force. Crispin Blunt has vigorously opposed such a move and spoke out against the Government plans in a speech to the House of Commons on 19th December last year. Mr Blunt opposes the restructuring on the grounds that Surrey would lose a police force with which the people of Surrey could clearly identify. He is also concerned at the huge costs that would be incurred:

‘Central Government support for the police in Surrey made up 86% of the budget in 1997. This has now dropped to just 55%. With the cost of restructuring likely to be at least £20 million it is not surprising that there is concern that Surrey taxpayers will be further burdened. The fact that Surrey County Council has consistently met the shortfall in central funding from Council Tax revenues shows that the County is committed to maintaining a high standard of policing. However, one might well ask why people in Surrey should continue to pay more than their fair share to maintain a force which will not be theirs’

Crispin Blunt has today written to the Home Secretary to demand an explanation for the dramatic reduction in central funding for Surrey Police. He added:

‘The Government has claimed a massive increase in funding for our public services. These figures reveal quite the reverse for Surrey. The weighting system which this Government exploits is rigged.  The County and Surrey’s MPs, County Councillors and Local Councillors will continue to expose the shocking way our institutions are being whittled away are our public services are under-funded while our taxes soar.’