Video - Police and Crime Commissioner calls for changes to police funding

The Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson has called for changes to the way police forces are funded to protect West Yorkshire Police from further government cuts.
Mark Burns-WilliamsonMark Burns-Williamson
Mark Burns-Williamson

Because of the different ways police forces are funded across England, he believes that there is a ‘north-south divide’ and is calling for reform.

He said: “A place like West Yorkshire suffers disproportionately because of the scale of the cuts.

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“We rely on the government for 80 per cent of our funding, so the more our budget is cut, the more our funding gets hit.

Mark Burns-WilliamsonMark Burns-Williamson
Mark Burns-Williamson

“In a place like Surrey they only rely on 50 per cent from government grants, so clearly there’s a disparity.

“I’ve been raising the issue of unfairness with the Home Secretary,” he added.

He is also calling for reforms to the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure money is spent in the area is it seized from.

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He said: “As a matter of principal I’m saying why aren’t we getting this money. I’m setting up a petition on the Number 10 website, and I’m lobbying government .”

Mr Burns-Williamson was speaking during a visit to Eastmoor on Monday to promote his Listening To You campaign. To complete his survey visit www.westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/