Police lose budget cap challenge

Surrey Police Authority has failed in a High Court bid to challenge the government, which has capped its spending budget for this year.

Communities Secretary John Denham ruled that it must not exceed £197,206,000.

The authority said capping would force the chief constable to cut 50 frontline operational posts and the cost of re-billing would be about £1.2m.

Mr Justice Charles refused permission for a judicial review at the High Court in London on Friday.

Afterwards, Surrey Police Authority chairman Peter Williams accused the Labour government of trying "to prove the political point" that it is in control of council tax, at the expense of the Conservative-voting county.

He said he was "extremely disappointed" at the judge's ruling, and the authority would now be considering its next move, including a possible appeal.

The government made clear all along that it would take capping action to protect council taxpayers Department of Communities and Local Government spokesman

He said of the cap decision: "It is extremely important to our authority.

"This cannot be a sensible use of public funds.

"We have to re-bill at a cost of about £1.2m to hand back £1.6m, or just six pence a week for the average Band D property."

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "The government made clear all along that it would take capping action to protect council taxpayers, and Surrey Police Authority knew this.

"There is no excuse for excessive council tax increases, yet it still went ahead.

"Even the High Court has now rejected their application for judicial review.

"Even after capping, Surrey policing is still getting £5.7m more than last year."