Bedfordshire’s PCC John Tizard has set a budget to protect police services and ensure financial sustainability

John Tizard, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire has set a budget for Bedfordshire Police and his office (OPCC) for 2026/27, designed to ensure long term financial stability and protect services for the public. 

The Police and Crime Panel has noted the PCC’s budget proposal and approved his recommendation to increase the policing element of council tax by 6.6% which is £18.50 for Band D households. The budget will allow the police service to spend the maximum available funding of £175m, including prudently increasing the police fund reserve. 

The PCC’s twin objectives in setting this budget are the safety of Bedfordshire residents and the sustainability of the police service. 

The police and OPCC budget are funded by central government and through council taxes. Despite small increases in government funding, Bedfordshire remains the lowest funded police service per capita in England, despite an unusually complex crime profile, and growing demand on police services. 

The 2026/27 funding settlement confirmed by the Home Office in January leaves Bedfordshire with significant pressure on its finances.  

The ratio of council tax to government grant is above the national average whilst the average household council tax bill is below the national average. 

The PCC has a duty to secure the financial sustainability of the police service whilst allocating sufficient money to the Chief Constable to manage an efficient and effective police service. 

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard said:  

“This has been a challenging budget to set, striking the right balance between affordability for households and protecting the police service. and ensuring the police service’s financial sustainability. 

“We have robustly scrutinised all expenditure and sought value for money. We have pressed government for additional and fair funding and will continue to do so. 

“We have taken a prudent approach to the use of reserves and rebuilding reserve levels. 

“Bedfordshire Police has faced severe budget pressures and consistent underfunding for many years. I have listened to the public who want effective police services – they told us that when we held our first county-wide poll. We received the same feedback in our recent council tax consultation. 

“I make no apology for increasing the council tax to the highest level permitted by government regulations. This is the only way to protect services and move towards long term financial sustainability.” 

Notes to editors 

The PCC has set the policing element of council tax at a 6.6% increase. For a Band D household this means that there will be an increase of £18.50 for 2026/27 — from £279.09 to £297.59 (an increase of £1.54 per month). This includes the use of exceptional flexibility confirmed by the Home Office, allowing an additional £3.50 above the national £15 cap for Band D council tax in recognition of Bedfordshire’s specific pressures.  

The PCC held an open county wide consultation in January which found that a majority who expressed a view through the consultation were in favour of increasing the policing element of council tax by the highest level permissible to protect frontline services.