Lincolnshire police is under-funded to the tune of £16.4m – despite news of a recent boost to the budget, according to public sector union Unison.
The county, along with neighbouring Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, will have a combined deficit of £42.1m by 2026.
Lincolnshire remains the lowest-funded force in the UK with the fewest officers and staff per head of population.
But the county’s police and crime commissioner Marc Jones announced an extra £3.8m funding last week.
A total of £1.8m was specifically to support the force as the Home Office is utilising RAF Scampton as an immigration facility.
A further £2m is for the ongoing digital transformation of the force.
An autumn recruitment programme is expected to take place as a result of the boost.
“I am extremely grateful for the time and effort the ministers and officials have devoted to working with us on these challenges and their obvious willingness to listen and respond to our case,” said Mr Jones.
“I am delighted that the Home Office has stepped in to help boost funding,” said Sir John Hayes, MP for South Holland and The Deepings.
“It’s just common sense that people want the police to be solving crimes and catching criminals.
“I will continue to press for additional support, including a wholesale review of the police funding formula so that Lincolnshire gets a fairer deal. For far too long, South Holland and our part of Lincolnshire gets a poor deal,” he said.
But unison says while forecasts are likely to be adjusted, police budgets look likely to be ‘considerably short of what’s needed.’
The union said cutting staff roles and holding vacancies was already an issue.
“Newly-recruited officers will need to do the work once done by police staff whose jobs have now been cut,” said a statement.
The East Midlands regional secretary Chris Jenkinson said: “Policing will become that much harder and staff will be left feeling increasingly anxious about their futures.”
