What We Do

Finance

A fundamental responsibility for Durham Police Authority is to ensure for the public of County Durham and Darlington, the best possible use of public money to provide effective policing in their area.

Where the Money Comes From

Each year Durham Police Authority must set the budget. This comprises a revenue budget and a capital budget. The revenue budget is used to fund salaries, allowances, pension commitments and operational running costs.

The capital budget is used to invest in longer life assets such as land, buildings, information technology, vehicles and equipment.

This budget determines the level of finance available to provide a police service during the financial year. Police budgets are met from a combination of a Central Government support, including Home Office grant and Revenue Support grant together with non domestic rates and council tax raised locally.

Details of the 2007/08 budget can be found within the Budget Book. This contains a range of information, starting with reports on the overall budget position and background to the budget process and summaries of the revenue and capital estimates.

The Budget Book is available to view or or download as a PDF. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Budget Book 2007-2008.pdf (83 pages, 320kb)

We hope that this document is informative and of interest and would value feedback to enable us to try to improve the quality and suitability of information provided. If you have suggestions and comments on both the format of the report and its content, or you would like any further information, please contact:

Charles Brown
Tel: 0191 383 3475
email: durham.pa@durham.gov.uk

Or write to:
The Treasurer
Durham Police Authority
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UE

Funding Formula

A funding formula is used by the Government to allocate central funds to police authorities.

Precept and Basic Council Tax

The balance of net expenditure not financed centrally is met by local taxpayers through the council tax. Durham Police Authority collect these sums through a 'precept' upon billing authorities (district councils) in the force area, who in turn collect the tax from individual households. The precept must be issued to billing authorities before the end of February each year. Durham Police Authority's 2007/08 basic council tax (at Band D property type) amounts to £135.72.

Code of Practice on Financial Management

The Home Office Code of Practice advises that financial responsibility should be delegated to the lowest level consistent with the responsibilities of the Police Authority and financial propriety.

As such financial responsibility is passed to the Chief Constable and the force to the extent that they can satisfy the Police Authority and its Treasurer that they have the necessary control systems and ability to carry out the delegated functions.

External Audit

After consultation with Durham Police Authority an external auditor is appointed by the Audit Commission. They are required to carry out an annual audit, examine the financial health of the organisation, scrutinise the Policing Plan including the robustness of the Performance Management framework and report to the Police Authority.

Statement of Accounts

The following documents provide details of the Police Authority's final accounts for the current and last financial year. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Statementof accounts 07-08.pdf(65 pages pages, 221kb)

Statement of Accounts 2006-2007.pdf (65 pages pages, 221kb)

Police Authority Final Accounts 2005-2006.pdf (65 pages, 565kb)

Statement of Accounts.pdf (59 pages, 192kb)