Will the Home Secretary will be failing our communities if she expects the Police funding bill to be passed onto hard hit households

NOW is not the time to be pushing policing cost increases onto cash strapped bill payers, warns a strongly worded letter sent to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, from Police and Crime Commissioners up and down the country. With growing calls for the nation's Police Forces to be fully funded as the cost of living crisis bites, the letter calls on the Government to step in with additional funding to prevent under pressure households having to carry the financial burden through their taxes.

Police Forces, such as Merseyside, which suffered more than £110m of cuts during a decade of austerity, are facing extreme pressure due to no budget flexibility and increased demand. The rises in utility and fuel costs, which are uncapped for Police Forces and are also compounding problems.

At the same time, households are facing unprecedented cost pressures and too many will struggle to cope as they are already on low or fixed incomes. This makes it inappropriate to continue increasing the burden on the Council Taxpayer, through the Police:- 'precept' prompting PCCs from:- Merseyside, Northumbria, Durham, West Midlands and South Yorkshire to come together with their urgent calls for action.

As well as more funding, the letter also urges Government to bring in a Police Precept Freeze Grant for 2023/24; another means of helping ease the unfair burden being piled onto tax payers.

The calls come following Suella Braverman's letter to all Police Chiefs in England and Wales, back in September 2022, which told them of the Government's expectation that they cut homicide and other serious crime, and neighbourhood crime by 20%. The request caused widespread anger across hardworking policing communities who strive to cut all crime and are desperate for more resources to help them get on with the job.

Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "The current cost of living crisis is causing people across Merseyside to worry about how they will feed their families and heat their homes this winter. Yet, as Police Commissioners, we are being expected to turn to these people to help fund the Police service that they need to fight crime in their neighbourhoods and keep their loved ones safe. This simply isn't fair."

The Commissioner added:- "It is the 1st responsibility of any Government to protect and safeguard its citizens, but after years of austerity we are now facing the prospect of going into next year with worsening Police finances at a time of rising demand' it's unacceptable. Through this letter, we are appealing directly to the Home Secretary to do the right thing and make sure all Police services are fully funded, without pushing the burden on to those who can least afford it. The last thing we want to do as PCCs is ask hard pressed local people to contribute more, but sadly we will be left with no choice if the Government doesn't step up and give our Police service the resources it needs to keep our communities safe."

The PCCs who have all signed the letter are:-

►  Emily Spurrell - Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside.

►  Kim McGuinness - Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria.

►  Alison Lowe - Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime.

►  Sophie Linden - Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime.

►  Bev Hughes - Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Policing and Crime.

►  Jeff Cuthbert - Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.

►  Alan Billings - Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire.

►  Alun Michael - Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.

►  Joy Allen - Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham.

►  Simon Foster - Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands.

►  Andy Dunbobbin - Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

The PCCs await a response from the Home Secretary.
 

Robbie Savage leads call for grassroots sports clubs to apply for £10K grant

LOCAL sports clubs have a chance to win a £10,000 lump sum as part of the Proud To Pitch In initiative, a grassroots funding scheme by Greene King IPA. Launched in 2021, the Greene King IPA Proud To Pitch In scheme allows grassroots sports clubs to apply for a funding grant of up to £3,000; however to celebrate the one year anniversary, a 1 off lump sum of £10,000 is being made available to clubs. To apply, or to nominate a club, simply go to:- GreeneKing-Pubs.Co.UK.

According to new national research from Greene King IPA, the 2022 UEFA Women's Euros has inspired a surge in grassroots sports participation, however there is more work to be done when it comes to funding. While the research revealed 30% of people decided to take up a grassroots sport due to the success of the Women's Euros tournament, many people feel clubs lack funding, and that barriers to participation still exist.

In total, 6% believe their local sports club receive sufficient funding. 26% of people believe local sports clubs need more funding for:- training facilities, kits, clubhouses, and pitch or court maintenance.

In addition to this, 37% of 18 to 24 Year Olds said there are no grassroots sport opportunities in their local community and 59% of women said that, as children, they were not encouraged to take part in sports.

Elsewhere, 29% of people revealed the cost of living crisis had impacted their decision to join a grassroots sports club, including:- 42% of 35 to 44 Year Olds.

The call out for clubs to apply for funding is being led by ex-footballer and Proud to Pitch In ambassador, Robbie Savage, who maintains that grassroots sports are essential to the UK's sporting pyramid.

Robbie Savage, GK IPA's Proud To Pitch In Ambassador said:- "Grassroots clubs are essential for communities up and down the country. They are not only a great social outlet, but grassroots sport is brilliant for mental and physical health. It's fantastic that so many people have been inspired by the incredible Lionesses, however, it's clear that clubs are struggling for funding, especially during the cost of living crisis, and with energy bills rising. Attitudes towards grassroots sports still have a long way to go which is why Greene King IPA's Proud To Pitch In scheme is so important, and a great opportunity for teams to receive all important funding."

The scheme, which is available throughout the UK, sees Greene King donating 10p from every pint of Greene King IPA and 50p from every 4x500ml can pack sold to support the scheme which sees grants awarded to clubs of up to £3,000, plus the recently announced 1 off £10,000 pot.

Supporting over 19,000 beneficiaries to date and funding up to 100 projects, the Greene King IPA Proud To Pitch In scheme is available for all grassroots sports clubs in the UK with participants aged 18 and over. So far, Greene King IPA Proud to Pitch In has donated £250K to grassroots sports clubs across the UK and pledges to aim to give away £1 million to clubs before the end of 2023.

Will Hemmings, Greene King Brewing and Brands Marketing Director said:- "We are delighted to celebrate one whole year of the Greene King IPA Proud To Pitch In scheme. For us, the scheme isn't a one-off campaign, but a continuous pledge from Greene King to create a lasting impact for thousands of clubs across the UK. We want grassroots sports to flourish, however we're aware of the challenges that many clubs face, which is why supporting clubs with additional funding is so important. With a cost of living crisis affecting households across the country, it is now, more than ever, so important that we keep clubs funded; in order to help maintain, and improve, the nation's social, mental, and physical wellbeing. Pubs and grassroots sports both play a critical role in local communities. They are spaces people can socialise and meet new people, which is great for mental health and wellbeing. What's better than bonding with a new friend about sport, over pint of IPA, in a cosy pub! So, whether you play football or hockey, are in a roller skating club, or organise a Zumba class, we want to support as many local clubs as possible; which will hopefully go a long way to keeping everyone in action."

To apply, or to nominate a grassroots sports club for the £10,000 funding lump sum, visit:- GreeneKing-Pubs.Co.UK.

Teams have from now until:- Sunday, 11 December 2022, to apply, and the winner will be contacted in January 2023. Additionally, grants of up to £3,000 are still available to clubs and teams, and applications for these can be entered online now.