The table and pie charts illustrate the sources of a police budget in one area of Britain for 2017 and 2018, along with how the funds were allocated.
Overall, the total budget increased slightly from 2017 to 2018. In both years, the national government was the main source of funding, and the largest proportion of expenditure was on salaries. Spending patterns remained broadly similar, although there were minor changes in allocation.
In terms of income, funding from the national government rose from £175.5 million in 2017 to £177.8 million in 2018. Local taxes also increased, from £91.2 million to £102.3 million, representing the most notable growth among the three sources. By contrast, money from other sources such as grants remained relatively stable, rising only slightly from £38 million to £38.5 million. As a result, the total budget grew from £304.7 million to £318.6 million.
Regarding expenditure, salaries accounted for the largest share in both years, although this fell marginally from 75% in 2017 to 69% in 2018. Spending on technology rose from 8% to 14%, indicating a greater emphasis on modernisation. Meanwhile, the proportion allocated to buildings and transport remained unchanged at 17%.
In summary, while the police budget experienced modest growth, spending priorities shifted slightly, with increased investment in technology.