Government confirms capping of Surrey Police

8.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th May 2009

It has been announced that, subject to the approval of parliament, the Surrey Police Authority (SPA) will be capped. They will have to refund £1.6 million (about £3 on average per council tax payer) at a cost of a further £1.2 million for re-billing. The news broke just hours after the SPA had met in public last Tuesday, when the chairman Mr Peter Williams had said they were still awaiting the government's decision following representations made to ministers by the SPA.

The government's decision comes despite the fact that Surrey Police is recognised as one of the most efficient forces in the country, and spends less per Band D property than any other force in the country. At the SPA meeting Mr Williams attributed part of their problem to having to deal with two different government departments, the Home Office who are only concerned with policing and not how it is funded, and the Local Government Department who are only concerned with Council Tax and not with the Police's needs for adequate funding. He also confirmed that if capped, the SPA would seek a Judicial Review, having already obtained legal advice that they have a very good case.

A statement by the Authority has branded the government's decision as irrational and unreasonable and says that in the current economic climate, requiring them to spend £1.2m in order to return £1.6m to the taxpayer is indefensible. This money would otherwise fund front line policing. So with reluctance they will begin a process of Judicial Review to challenge this decision through the courts.

Meanwhile the Chief Constable Mark Rowley is planning for cuts, which the SPA say will inevitably hit the front line. The SPA says it will explore every option available to it and will do everything in its power to protect Surrey's high standard of policing.

Related Links:

Surrey Police Authority slams Government Capping Decision.

SPA Chairman responds to Surrey Advertiser.

SPA sets the record straight.

Government threat to Surrey Police.