Budget Survey 2026-2027

Like most households and businesses, PCC Rupert Matthews is awaiting announcements from central government on budgets and funding, conscious that the smoke signals are anything but positive.

Every Council Tax payer makes a contribution known as the “precept” to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who then uses that money to fund crime prevention, victim support and police services. This year, Rupert Matthews, the PCC for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be starting a root and branch review of spending and activity to ensure value for money. He is determined that every penny will be spent in the most effective way to keep the public as safe as possible. It is therefore important that the public have their say over the precept.

As the  PCC launches a survey, designed to establish the public’s views on their contributions towards policing, crime prevention community safety and victim support services, he is aware that tough choices are in the pipeline.

"My budget has to pay for a lot more than just police services – such as crime prevention and support for victims of crime. I believe we need to think outside the box to determine what will have the greatest impact on public safety.

There is a real danger that the national government may seek to put pressure on PCCs to use local taxation to plug the black hole caused by lack of Government funding.  I’m all for local funding shaping local decisions, but I don’t feel quite the same way about local funding covering central government shortfall.

To put things into perspective, in 2025-26 the Government provided 56% of my £255m budget for policing, crime prevention and victim support services, with the remaining 44% paid by local taxpayers through part of their overall Council Tax bill. At the same time, they landed us with a bill to pay for national insurance hikes and pay increases which, despite protestations to the contrary, they did not cover."

He is lobbying the government for a reasonable funding settlement at every opportunity and exploring different ways to spread the overall budgetary cake more widely to protect essential services.

“Like so many people, I want to slash any waste or duplication to increase funding for frontline public services.  I want to see other government departments picking up the bill for the services that they should provide, not simply expecting the police to pick up the pieces because they always have.

We live in very tough financial times and there appears little doubt that the next few years will get even harder.  We need to be bold, and we need, above all to make ends meet.

I need local views; I need to know what local people think so that I can plan my budget accordingly.”

Use the link below to have your say: