The outcome of this week’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) came as a welcome surprise to the police service in England and Wales when anticipated 20 to 40 per cent cuts were replaced by a commitment to protect overall police spending’ in real terms until 2019/20. However, it is clear that there is plenty of devil in the detail and the full financial implications for forces won’t be known before the 2016/17 police funding announcement in December. Beyond that, however, it is also clear that the CSR has a range of other implications for policing, including operationally, politically and in policy terms.

The Police Foundation has produced a briefing (305 KB) providing some early reflections on what the CSR means for policing.