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North Yorkshire Police Faces Budget Cuts After £2.6m Funding Gap Revealed
Residents across North Yorkshire could soon feel the impact of potential police budget cuts, as councillors are warned that funding for North Yorkshire Police may not stretch far enough to cover rising costs.
A newly published report reveals the force is facing an unexpected £2.6 million shortfall for the 2026/27 financial year.
What’s causing the funding gap?
According to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the issue stems from a lower-than-expected government funding settlement:
📉 Police funding increase: 2.8%
📊 National average: 3.3%
💷 Funding gap: £2.6 million
Even if councillors approve the maximum £15 increase in the police precept for a Band D household, the budget would still fall short.
Why cuts may now be unavoidable
A report due to be discussed this week paints a stark picture:
🔺 Inflation: 3.5%
👮 Pay award already committed: 1.4%
📉 Funding left to cover all other costs: just 2.6%
In plain terms, the maths simply doesn’t add up.
“This will clearly be impossible to meet and will require very difficult decisions,” the report warns.
Those pressures go beyond inflation alone and could affect how services are delivered locally.
Meeting that could shape policing in North Yorkshire
The issue will be debated when members of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel meet on Wednesday to review the provisional settlement.
Their discussions could influence:
Future police staffing levels
Local service priorities
Council tax decisions
Concern over new officer recruitment
One detail likely to raise concern among residents is the apparent reduction or removal of funding intended to support the recruitment of 29 additional police officers in North Yorkshire.
At a time when visible policing and response times remain key public concerns, this revelation may prompt further scrutiny.
Mayor’s response: “A difficult balance”
Commenting on the situation, David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, acknowledged the challenge of balancing public safety with household finances.
“Our police and fire services do an amazing job keeping us all safe. It’s vital they have the resources to do that well, but when family finances are tight, public money must be spent carefully.”
He added that efforts were being made to limit the burden on council tax payers while still protecting frontline services.
What happens next?
🔎 More clarity expected next month, when further details on police funding are due to be released and reported back to the panel.
For residents, the key questions remain:
Will frontline services be affected?
Can efficiencies be found without cuts?
How will future council tax decisions be shaped?
This is a developing story — and one that could have lasting implications for policing across North Yorkshire.
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