Police bosses need £1.3bn to tackle terrorism and rising crime

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APPC) said an extra £440 million would be required in 2018/19 and £845m more in the following financial year.

The extra money would pay for 5,000 more officers to deal with new types of crime, as well as an additional 1,100 armed police force members.

The calls have been backed by Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and his Conservative Staffordshire counterpart, Matthew Ellis.

The West Midlands hosts the country’s second largest counter-terrorism unit. The plea comes following a series of police funding cuts since 2010.

The Government agreed to protect overall spending in the 2015 spending review but the way that money is allocated means some forces are likely to lose out.

Paddy Tipping, the APCC’s finance deputy lead, said: “The police workforce has been reduced by nearly 19 per cent over the last seven years and at a time when the population is growing and the sheer complexity of policing is increasing.

“It is clear more funding is required if we are going to deliver the right level of service for the public.”

Mr Tipping, the Nottinghamshire crime commissioner, added: “This year, the police have had to respond to horrific terrorist acts and unprecedented levels of demand at our control rooms and, increasingly, we know that officers and staff, whose work we all value so greatly, have become stretched like never before.

The APCC said it was responding to a Home Office request to it and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to stress-test the policing service. “We believe that a lack of investment will lead to increases in crime and a reduction of police and state legitimacy,” Mr Tipping.”

Mr Jamieson said crime was rising while funding for police forces was down.

“West Midlands Police has faced £145 million cuts since 2010,” he said.

“If the Government values the safety of the public they need to give forces the resources they need.

“This document comprehensively sets out the funding police forces need to keep the public safe, deal with rising crime and emerging threats.”

Mr Ellis has spoken about increasing funding for counter terrorism and wants Government to allow commissioners to increase council tax above current caps of two per cent.

Back in August, he said: “I am going to say for the first time it is time we need more investment rather than disinvestment.