Rupert Matthews puts taxpayers first in budget surprise

PCC Rupert Matthews has unveiled his budget for 2026-27 which has a lower-than-expected increase for local contributions, but an above inflation rise to the police.

Context:

The budget covers policing, crime prevention and victim services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. It is funded by contributions from local residents (44%) through the police portion of the council tax (the precept) and the police grant (56%) from the Government.

In December, Government ministers stated that police forces across England and Wales were set to receive a funding boost of up to £798m in the next financial year. This figure was based on an increase in the police precept of £15 for a Band D property.

The development of this year’s budget has been exhaustive, with the PCC looking at all the evidence for and against the necessity for larger increases, including the impact on the force’s longer term financial position, with the Chief Constable, his own chief executive and their respective finance officers.

Public opinion, given in response to his latest survey, showed a majority in favour of an increase in the precept but no overall agreement on the size of the increase – while about a third voted for no increase at all.

A report published today shows that although Mr Matthews has allocated Leicestershire Police £261.97m for 2026-27, an increase of 5.1% well above the current rate of inflation (3.4%) and the police pay increase (4.2%), he is not burdening the local taxpayer with the maximum amount anticipated by the Government. The report shows that the force will be expected to make savings of just £1.2m.

In a move that will be welcomed by many local residents, Mr Matthews is proposing a precept increase of £11 for a Band D property across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland which, at 3.66%, is just above inflation.

“Just because I can ask local people to pay an additional £15 towards policing, it doesn’t mean I should.” he said today. “The maximum amount is not an entitlement; it is not a rite of passage. I haven’t been convinced by any views saying that it was essential to go for the maximum possible, so I haven’t.

“It’s true that I have been calling for more funding for Leicestershire Police for years. I will continue to do so. But this money should come from central government, not local residents.”

Mr Matthews is keen to point out that: “Given the force’s excellent savings record, I have every confidence that the Chief Constable can and will meet that savings target.”

“The above inflation increase in the police budget has been in part funded by a cut to the budget of his own office of 3%, money which will reinvested in frontline policing. As a result, the force will benefit from over 98% of all the available funds.

“I wanted to find a balance whereby the force was not compromised financially, and the public were not paying a penny more than absolutely essential,” he said.

“My responsibility is to our taxpayers, and I had no evidence to say that another £4 (for a Band D property) would make them safer.”

The total net revenue budget in 2026-27 is £267.044m, with a £1.2m efficiency savings target. This equates to an increase of £12.5m (4.9%) from the 2025-26 net revenue budget level of £254.546m.

The amount of precept paid depends on the council tax band of the property in which you live.

Band Precept by Band Increase from 2025/26

Mr Matthews’ will present his recommendation to the Police and Crime Panel on 4 February.

ENDS

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