The news that Lincolnshire Police may be forced to cut 200 officers by 2028 due to a £14 million budget shortfall is a damning indictment of failure at every level past and present. Lincolnshire has been underfunded for years, but it has also been mismanaged. Successive Conservative governments have ignored the structural funding problems, while local leadership has failed to fight hard enough to secure a better deal.
The current government's policing settlement is woefully inadequate. The extra £9.8 million they boast about doesn't come close to filling the black hole. Instead of adequately funding the force, Westminster expects Lincolnshire residents to foot the bill through higher council tax while still being left with fewer officers and worsening services. That is unacceptable.
But let's be clear: this crisis didn't come out of nowhere. The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, has held the job since 2016. During that time, reserves have been drained, and despite his claims of effective financial management, we are now on the brink of an unprecedented collapse in policing numbers. Where was the plan? Where was the fight for long-term funding? We have a PCC that talks strictly about lobbying and legal action, but Lincolnshire remains at the back of the queue year after year.
Meanwhile, past decisions by Lincolnshire Police leadership have left the force under enhanced inspection by the inspectorate. The government points to these other issues within the force as part of the problem, but the truth is that bad funding and bad management have gone hand in hand.
We need a total reset. As Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, I will take this fight directly to Westminster and demand proper funding for our police. No more weak leadership, no more kicking the can down the road, and no more making do with scraps while our communities suffer. Lincolnshire deserves real policing, fundamental security, and authentic leadership, not just excuses and blame-shifting.
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