There are 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. A Chief Constable heads each force, with authority over all operational policing decisions and staff. Chief Constables report to an elected Police and Crime Commissioner (‘Commissioner’) created to replace Police Authorities. Commissioners, in consultation with their Chief Constable: set out in an annual police and crime plan the objectives for their police force; allocate the funds needed to achieve them; and hold police forces to account on behalf of the public.
Commissioners are funded by central government via the Department and through the police precept, which is collected alongside council tax in the relevant police force area. Commissioners fund their police force and other crime reduction initiatives. In 2014-15, police forces spent some £12.8 billion. Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, central government funding to Commissioners reduced by £2.3 billion (25%) from £9 billion to £6.7 billion in real terms.