Home Office may be forced to cut police numbers as result of Treasury deal
The Home Office could still be forced to cut the overall number of police officers after lengthy spending review negotiations with the Treasury.
Whitehall sources said the department had been asked to look at all options including limiting officer recruitment, which would mean an overall cut in the headcount.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, was the last minister to reach a deal with the Treasury, with reports suggesting greater police spending would mean a squeeze on other areas of her department's budget. A source said that cuts to police numbers remained 'a possibility'.
Officials will also be expected to look at reducing the cost of the government's accommodation for asylum seekers, which is expected to rise to £15.3bn.
But ministers have few levers to control the rising costs, which have largely been driven by an increase in the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels.
The Home Office had argued privately that police numbers must be maintained for the government to deliver its policy commitments on neighbourhood policing.
Police chiefs including Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, had publicly lobbied the government for more money in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, the prime minister's official spokesperson said negotiations over the spending review were over.
'The spending review is settled, we will be focused on investing in Britain's renewal so that all working people are better off,' they said.
'The first job of the government was to stabilise the British economy and the public finances, and now we move into a new chapter to deliver the promise and change.'
The government has committed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament – a timetable which could stretch to 2034.
Rachel Reeves's plans will also include an £86bn package for science and technology research and development.
Last week the chancellor admitted that she had been forced to turn down requests for funding for projects she wanted to back, amid the Whitehall spending wrangling.
Sadiq Khan's office is concerned that Wednesday's announcement will include no new funding or projects for London.
The mayor had been looking to secure extensions to the Docklands Light Railway and Bakerloo line on the Underground, along with the power to introduce a tourist levy and a substantial increase in funding for the Met.
A source close to the mayor said on Monday that ministers 'must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government', adding this would harm London's public services and 'jobs and growth across the country'.
They said: 'Sadiq will always stand up for London and has been clear it would be unacceptable if there are no major infrastructure projects for London announced in the spending review and the Met doesn't get the funding it needs.
'We need backing for London as a global city that's pro-business, safe and well-connected.'
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