Message from Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw
Everyone in Lancashire should be safe and feel safe. Our police service is key to that.
As your elected Police and Crime Commissioner, one of my key responsibilities is setting the policing budget for 2026/27. I want to hear your views.
I am responsible for ensuring the Chief Constable has the resources needed to police Lancashire effectively. Lancashire Constabulary currently has a budget of £424.76 million. Around £292.54 million of this (69%) comes from the Government and the other 31% from your council tax contribution you make through the policing precept.
Our public services have been under an enormous amount of pressure for the last fifteen years. My core principles in setting this precept are ensuring the minimum burden on local taxpayers, that Lancashire Constabulary keep people safe and give value for money, and deliver our locally agreed priorities.
The Government limits how much Police and Crime Commissioners can raise through the precept each year. To maintain the current level of service for 2026/27, the Government has this week announced that Lancashire will need a budget of £434.4m. This requires an increase of £15 per year in council tax for a Band D property - equivalent to 19p per week for a Band A property or 22p per week for Band B, the most common bands in Lancashire.
I know this comes at a time when the cost of living is affecting us all. Rising costs for pay, utilities and insurance mean the 2026/27 policing budget will be set against a challenging economic backdrop. That’s why it’s more important than ever to make every pound work harder to sustain and improve services.
Income raised through the precept will help deliver the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan, shaped by consultation with Lancashire residents. These include:
• Strengthening neighbourhood policing – increasing visibility, preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour
• Tackling violence against women and girls – including dedicated victim support for domestic abuse, rape, sexual offences and stalking
• Getting tough on serious violent crime – including knife crime, abuse and exploitation
• Improving public contact and standards in policing
Thanks to your continued support, we’ve been able to invest in key areas and maintain Lancashire’s position as a top-performing force. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services rates Lancashire Constabulary as good for efficiency, so you can also be confident that any investment will be maximised for the best possible outcomes.
We want everyone to be able to access this information. Please share your views below. If you need a paper copy, or would like this information in another language or format, contact my office at commissioner@lancashire-pcc.gov.uk or call 01772 533587 to request a copy.
