The table and charts illustrate the police budget in one area of Britain for 2017 and 2018, showing the sources of income and how the money was distributed.
Overall, the total budget increased slightly over the two years, mainly due to a significant rise in local taxes. In both years, the majority of the money was spent on salaries, although this proportion decreased, while spending on technology increased.
In 2017, the police received a total of £304.7 million, which rose to £318.6 million in 2018. The largest source of funding in both years was the national government, contributing around £175.5 million in 2017 and slightly more in 2018. However, the most noticeable growth came from local taxes, which increased by over £10 million, from £91.2 million to £102.3 million. Other sources, such as grants, made up a relatively small but stable portion, rising only marginally from £38 million to £38.5 million.
Regarding expenditure, salaries accounted for three-quarters of the total spending in 2017 but dropped to just under 70% in 2018. By contrast, the proportion spent on technology almost doubled from 8% to 14%. Spending on buildings and transport remained constant at 17% over the period.