Police 'concerned' at budget cap

The government said it wanted to protect council tax payers Police in Surrey have said they are concerned about the impact on the force's operations of a budget cap imposed by the government. The police authority said it was considering the full implications of the ruling, which restricts its budget to £189.6m for 2009/10. The government has allowed it to keep its £191.5m budget for this year. Local Government Minister John Healey said the capping was to protect council tax payers from excessive increases. The £191.5m budget accepted for 2008/9 represents a 6% increase on 2007/8, but local government minister John Healey imposed the cap on subsequent budgets on Thursday. 'Significant implications' "We have maintained that the three-year budget put forward by the authority is the best way forward in providing a policing... [read full story]