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The Public Safety Foundation is proud to present our podcast Safety Matters.
In this episode of Safety Matters, Rory Geoghegan and Oliver Laurence dive into the 2025 Spending Review and what it means for policing, public safety, and criminal justice in the UK. Recorded on the day of the review, Rory explains the mechanics and politics behind the spending process, including the Treasury’s role, departmental jockeying for funds, and the limited room for manoeuvre given the UK’s sluggish economic growth.
Despite widespread calls for more investment in public safety, the Home Office receives a modest 2.3% annual budget increase—largely dependent on local Police and Crime Commissioners raising council tax precepts. In real terms, there’s no significant new central government funding for policing.
The hosts discuss the consequences: overflowing prisons, an overwhelmed court system, falling police morale, and public scepticism about where money is actually going. They question whether current police leadership can deliver value with more resources, and highlight the disconnect between political rhetoric, frontline realities, and public expectations.
Rory and Oliver also explore how trust in the system is eroding—both among officers and the public—and warn of the growing gap between the political elite and the lived experience of crime and disorder across Britain. They conclude with a call for a more coherent, joined-up vision for criminal justice reform, economic growth, and political courage.
Listen or Watch to S01E02 of Safety Matters: Spotify | YouTube | X
Follow @Protect_ServeUK, @RoryGeo and @PublicSafetyFdn.
