Suffolk Constabulary reports £4.2m underspend
At a time when many forces are struggling to balance their books, Suffolk Constabulary has reported a £4.2m budget surplus for the last financial year, according to BBC News.
The underspend, against an overall budget of £182.7m, was driven by higher-than-forecast income, delayed capital expenditure and around £1m in investment returns on £41m held in reserves. A reduction in officer hours also contributed £900,000 to the surplus.
Police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said the force was not struggling to recruit, with officer numbers maintained above the agreed baseline of 1,425. He said the surplus would be taken into account when setting next year’s council tax precept, though he stopped short of committing to a freeze.
The force did not explain whether the reduction reflected vacancies, sickness, or a shift in how officer time was recorded.
The result contrasts sharply with conditions elsewhere. South Yorkshire police faced a £65m budget hole and drew on reserves to fund day-to-day operations; North Yorkshire was considering cutting officer numbers; and Leicestershire’s PCC was forced to reverse a below-maximum council tax rise.
Suffolk recorded 43,000 crimes in 2025, giving it the second-lowest crime rate in England and Wales at 55.4 per 1,000 residents, though shoplifting rose 10 per cent knife crime increased 16 per cent over the same period.