Protecting your police service
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, my priority is simple: to make sure Merseyside Police has the resources, people and tools it needs to keep you safe.
Policing is changing all the time. New challenges and increasingly complex crime mean we must stay one step ahead. That’s why the Chief Constable and I are focused on strengthening neighbourhood policing — the local, community‑focused approach you consistently tell me matters most.
I didn’t take lightly the decision to ask local taxpayers to contribute a little more. I’m grateful for your support, and for the Police and Crime Panel’s unanimous backing. Your contribution helps us maintain the visible policing presence and high‑quality service you rightly expect.
Even with your support, we still face a significant budget gap. To close it, the Chief Constable has identified savings that protect frontline services wherever possible.
Every pound we spend is focused on delivering the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan:
- Fighting crime and antisocial behaviour,
- Supporting victims,
- Preventing harm.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of officers, PCSOs, staff and partners, Merseyside continues to make positive progress in tackling crime and improving safety. We are committed to building on this momentum as we deliver the new force strategy and work towards our ambition for Merseyside Police to be recognised as the best police force in the UK.
Last year, I secured nearly £8.5m in extra funding for projects to tackle serious violence, make our streets safe and protect victims. This work continues every single day, and I will keep fighting to bring as much investment as possible into our region.
Thank you for your support in helping us to protect our police service and our work to build a safer, stronger Merseyside.
Emily Spurrell
Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside
Police and Crime Commissioner budget
How the money is spent:
| 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Pay | £246,092,000 | £253,054,000 |
| Police Pensions | £72,099,000 | £75,038,000 |
| Police Staff Pay | £111,261,000 | £116,246,000 |
| Police Staff Pensions | £16,584,000 | £8,250,000 |
| Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner | £1,837,000 | £1,900,000 |
| PCC Controlled Expenditure | £10,156,000 | £10,386,000 |
| Other | £43,846,000 | £62,222,000 |
Gross Expenditure |
£501,875,000 | £527,096,000 |
How our spending has changed:
| Gross Expenditure 2025 to 2026 | £501,875,000 |
|---|---|
| Full Year Effect of 2025 pay award above original budget | £4,879,000 |
| Impact of Price Inflation above 2025 to 2026 contingency | £413,000 |
| Additional Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Target | £1,666,000 |
| Allowance for Pay Inflation | £14,571,000 |
| Allowance for Price Inflation | £1,616,000 |
| Net Committed Growth/(Savings) | £2,076,000 |
Gross Expenditure 2026 to 2027 |
£527,096,000 |
Where the money comes from:
| Source | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Police General Grant | (£315,998,000) | (£340,077,000) |
| Council Tax Grants | (£15,641,000) | (£15,641,000) |
| Council Tax Precept Requirement | (£111,273,000) | (£119,660,000) |
| Collection Fund Deficit/(Surplus) | (£928,000) | (£317,000) |
| Specific Government Grants | (£50,747,000) | (£48,425,000) |
| Income | (£3,172,000) | (£3,293,000) |
| Net Contribution to/(from) Reserves | (£4,116,000) | £317,000 |
Total Funding |
(£501,875,000) | (£527,096,000) |
Why has the Council Tax requirement changed?
| Council Tax Requirement 2025 to 2026 | (£111,273,000) |
|---|---|
| Increase in tax base | (£2,281,000) |
| Increase in Band D Equivalent | (£6,106,000) |
| Council Tax Requirement 2026 to 2027 | (£119,660,000) |
| 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 | Increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Base (Band D Equivalent properties) | 398,872 | 407,050 | 8,178 |
| Band D Equivalent Change | £278.97 | £293.97 | £15.00 |
Your contribution for 2025 to 2026
| Council Tax Bands | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 | Increase | Increase % | Increase per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Band A (majority of taxpayers on Merseyside) |
£185.98 | £195.98 | £10.00 | 5.38% | £0.19 |
| Tax Band B | £216.98 | £228.64 | £11.67 | 5.38% | £0.22 |
| Tax Band C | £247.97 | £261.31 | £13.33 | 5.38% | £0.26 |
| Tax Band D | £278.97 | £293.97 | £15.00 | 5.38% | £0.29 |
| Tax Band E | £340.96 | £359.30 | £18.33 | 5.38% | £0.35 |
| Tax Band F | £402.96 | £424.62 | £21.67 | 5.38% | £0.42 |
| Tax Band G | £464.95 | £489.95 | £25.00 | 5.38% | £0.48 |
| Tax Band H | £557.94 | £587.94 | £30.00 | 5.38% | £0.58 |
Contact the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside
Mather Avenue Training Centre
224 Mather Avenue
Liverpool
L18 9TG
Phone: 0151 777 5155
Email: info@merseysidepcc.info
Find out more about the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside