Neighbourhood police in South West set for record funding boost
Government unveils plans to invest £18.4 billion and reform the policing system
Neighbourhood policing in the South West is set for a significant transformation as the government announces record funding of £18.4 billion next year to tackle crime and improve community safety.
Police forces across the region will benefit from increased funding, including:
- Up to £459.5 million for Avon & Somerset Constabulary, a 4.5% cash increase
- Up to £483.5 million for Devon & Cornwall Police, a 4.2% cash increase
- Up to £203.5 million for Dorset Police, a 4.5% cash increase
- Up to £176.2 million for Gloucestershire Police, a 4.1% cash increase
- Up to £180.1 million for Wiltshire Police, a 5.0% cash increase
The funding forms part of a broader strategy to put 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing personnel in place by the end of September 2025, with almost 2,400 already introduced since March this year, according to the government.
New Neighbourhood Policing Ringfence from April
From April 2026, the government will replace its Officer Maintenance Grant with a Neighbourhood Policing Ringfence, designed to focus efforts on increasing officer visibility in communities and reducing crime.
This change allows forces to move beyond arbitrary officer headcounts that led to increased numbers of uniformed officers placed in back-office roles, rather than actively working in communities. The Neighbourhood Policing Ringfence aims to address this by letting forces tailor their workforce to meet local priorities.
Largest policing reforms in 200 years
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, revealed plans for £119 million investment in 2026-27 to kickstart major reforms, including rolling out live facial recognition technology, improving data systems, and establishing a national AI centre for policing.
“These changes restore neighbourhood policing, with nearly 2,400 more officers already working in communities,” Mahmood said. “We are reforming policing so local forces can protect their communities effectively.”
With police funding increasing by nearly £2 billion since 2023, these measures are expected to help forces adapt their workforce and technology to better combat crime and respond to public needs.