‘A sticking plaster rather than a cure!’ South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes welcomes £5.7 million bail out for Lincolnshire Police but warns ‘fight goes on’ for fairer funding

An MP has welcomed a £5.7 million million funding stop gap for the county’s police force - but warned ‘the fight goes on’ to secure better financial backing.

Despite the vital cash injection, Sir John Hayes says Lincolnshire Police remain shortchanged by the Government’s funding formula - and likened the latest bail out to ‘a sticking plaster rather than a cure’.

The money stumped up by the Government means the county’s force will not be made to axe any jobs this summer, with cash package ensuring staffing levels are safe until at least the autumn.

The force had previously warned this financial black hole could lead to cutting 200 jobs, as well as March’s new officer intake being cancelled.

“It is a substantial sum, but we still need to deal with the fundamental issue of the police funding formula and successive Governments of all colours have not done that,” said South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John.

“This will not end our fight to get a funding formula that means we don’t have to rely on these injections of cash on a regular basis.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been able to secure extra money for Lincolnshire Police, however it’s always against that backdrop of a formula which disadvantages the county.”

Lincolnshire has the worst police funding in the country, with the lowest number of officers per head tasked with covering and area of 5,921km², the fifth largest patch in England.

Prior to this funding the force was staring at a £14 million shortfall this year.

“Its very good news and obviously it will stave off feared cuts, and we welcome the fact the Government have listened to the message we’ve been broadcasting very loudly on behalf of local people,” Sir John added.

“Obviously, this comes after a long campaign in which I’ve been heavily involved with, seeing the policing minister Diana Johnson directly.

“I know the chief constable (Paul Gibson), Marc (Jones) and other MPs have too.”

Sir John likened the police’s latest bail out to the Fens’ drainage board issues, saying both are crying out for long-term solutions rather than short-term top-ups.

“We’ve been effective in getting those extra sums of money,” he added.

“But it is a short term fix, a sticking plaster rather than a cure - and the fight goes on.”