The MP for North Cornwall has criticised the government’s approach to police funding, warning that the rise in employer National Insurance contributions will hit local police forces hard and undermine efforts to get more officers on the streets.
Speaking in a parliamentary debate on the impact of planned changes to employer National Insurance contributions on police forces, Ben Maguire raised concerns that forces like Devon and Cornwall are already struggling with severe financial pressures - and that the government’s funding model continues to rely heavily on council tax increases in places like Cornwall to make up the shortfall.
During his speech, Mr Maguire called on the government to scrap police and crime commissioners and instead reinvest the millions spent on their offices directly into frontline policing. He also urged ministers to exempt policing from the damaging rise in employer National Insurance contributions, which will further squeeze already overstretched forces.
Ben Maguire MP said: “For years, policing has been underfunded, overstretched, and undermined. The government claims to be investing in frontline policing, but the reality is starkly different. Forces are already struggling, and now, with the rise in employer National Insurance contributions, many will face an impossible choice - cut officer numbers or pass even more of the bill onto local taxpayers.
“For my North Cornwall constituents, rural crime is a growing problem, but there simply aren’t enough resources to deal with it. Instead of directing funding towards frontline officers who can tackle crime where it matters most, we are seeing more money drained into bureaucracy, including the failing police and crime commissioner system.
“Our police need proper funding, not more financial burdens. This government has got it backwards, raising costs on forces, GP surgeries, and emergency services while claiming to support them. It makes no sense at all.”
The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner has been approached for further comment.