Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: “The settlement amount is not entirely clear but, in Staffordshire, we had planned and prepared for 20% cuts over the next four years and we were on the way to achieving that whilst minimising the effect on frontline policing. It looks as though, from the grant settlement figures released, that for Staffordshire the result is a much smaller cut in funding from Government of between 2% and 5%.
“I have prioritised stabilising the budget, driving efficiencies and spending public money more effectively and efficiently, since being elected.
“It is absolutely crucial that we are clear that the reforms to policing, including investing in technology to meet new challenges, new crimes and new threats continue and this settlement provides some financial respite.
“However, it is also about spending the money available as effectively as possible, before asking local people for any extra.”
