Legacy issues hit force’s finances
SOUTH YORKSHIRE: Police have warned they face a financial shortfall of up to £19m dealing with ‘legacy’ issues such as the Hillsborough disaster and historic child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
The force faces civil claims for compensation from both survivors of the Rotherham scandal and from Hillsborough.
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Police face a financial shortfall in dealing with ‘legacy’ issues such as the Hillsborough disaster and historic child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
Finance bosses under the police and crime commissioner highlight the ‘uncertainty’ in future central government support which has been described as a ‘significant risk’ in maintaining adequate reserves for South Yorkshire Police.
Reports show the force faces a £19m funding gap in dealing with past events.
The Home Office has supplied £110m to SYP but legacy costs are expected to hit £129m by 2024/2025.
The two main issues are investigating historic CSE in Rotherham, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) through Operation Stovewood and the Hillsborough disaster where 96 Liverpool fans died in 1989.
SYP faces civil claims for compensation from both survivors of CSE in Rotherham and from the victim’s families of Hillsborough.
Finance bosses are concerned that the Home Office Special Grant funding has not been confirmed past 2021.
South Yorkshire Police’s earmarked reserves, which is planned to fund any legacy issue civil claim, is forecast to run out by 2024.
Michael Clements, chief finance and commissioning officer at SYPCC, said: “Legacy issues are forecast to cost a further £129m to 2023/24, requiring £19m of our resources to fund the expected shortfall in Special Grant receivable under current Home Office rules.
“We remain in active dialogue with the Home Office to increase Special Grant to minimise the level of funding from the current
Michael Clements, chief finance officer at South Yorkshire Police. policing budget to pay for the legacy of these historic events (such as) civil claims arising from the Hillsborough disaster and the cost of the National Crime Agency’s ongoing investigation into historic child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
“The PCC and Chief Constable continue to actively lobby the Home Office to secure a more favourable funding position for South Yorkshire, recognising the unique reliance on Special Grant.
“Whilst the relationship with Home Office officials remains positive and supportive, no change to the funding rules for the future has been formally communicated to South Yorkshire yet.”
Two years ago it was reported by The Yorkshire Post that the South Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings had issued a warning that the ongoing compensation claims against South Yorkshire Police over the Hillsborough disaster and the Rotherham abuse scandal meant the force was facing a “very serious” financial situation unless the Government stepped in to help.
Legacy issues are forecast to cost a further £129m to 2023/24.