Officials have cautioned that the Metropolitan Police could face additional reductions in its workforce if the forthcoming funding from the Home Office falls short.
The police force has already recognized a £20 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year 2026-27, which they plan to address through efficiencies that do not involve personnel. However, they indicate that adjustments to staffing and recruitment might be necessary if they do not receive the anticipated funding increase from the Home Office.
The Home Office maintains that the government is dedicated to ensuring a “real terms increase” in police funding over the next three years.
Dan Worsley, the chief financial officer for the Met, informed the London Assembly that in the event of inadequate income, the force would need to explore opportunities for efficiency improvements, which might impact their ability to recruit sufficient numbers to offset attrition and maintain workforce levels.
The Met’s attrition rate stands at about 7%, which is relatively low compared to other police forces across the country.
There has been considerable concern regarding a decline in officer numbers despite a commitment from Sir Sadiq Khan to increase the police force by 1,300 by the conclusion of his current term.
Following the last mayoral election in May 2024, there were 33,766 police officers; however, projections from the Met suggest that this figure could decrease to 31,258 by March 2026.
Kaya Schwartz-Comer, the mayor’s deputy for policing, stated that the Met has emphasized neighborhood policing to ensure effective operational capability, which has led to a reduction in total officer numbers.
She noted that the Met is adopting a flexible approach by reallocating officers to neighborhood duties and “civilianizing officers in back-office roles” whenever possible, indicating that further cuts may not be feasible.
“We’re confronting a deficit created by the previous government,” Ms. Schwartz-Comer remarked.
Last year, the Met had to make several contentious choices to address its funding shortfall, including a reduction in the number of police front counters across the capital.
A spokesperson for the Home Office informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the government has announced a £1.2 billion increase in funding for police forces this year.
“The chancellor has pledged a real terms increase in police funding power over the next three years, with further details on funding allocations to be provided during the provisional police settlement,” the spokesperson said.
