PCD 1807 Fees and Charges Annual Review 2025/26

Executive Summary:  

This paper seeks approval for the attached schedule of Fees and Charges, the revised charges for Special Police Services (SPS) and the implementation of any revised rates set or advised by other agencies or determined by statute or legislation.  

Recommendation:  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the attached Schedule of Fees and Charges levied pursuant to Section 15 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (Supply of Goods and Services) Appendix 1 – Table 1 refers.   

2. Approve the revised charges for Special Police Services under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996, which are based on full cost recovery, and recalculated to reflect the current cost of policing in line with NPCC guidance Appendix 2 - Tables 2A - F refer. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. This paper details the results of a review of rates to reflect current price increases and sets out information on the recommended Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) fees and charges and Special Police Service rates for the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) to approve for 2025. 

2. The income from the fees and charges is recovered under the provisions of existing legislation, as outlined below, and can be classified under several specific categories, namely: 

• MPS calculated fees and charges which generally will be increased by either a set percentage or in the case of SPS increased by pay and other inflationary costs; 

• Fees and charges where the rates are either set or advised by other Agencies including Legal Aid Agency and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC); and, 

• Fees and charges that are determined by statute or legislation. This includes items such as the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles, firearms certificates, pedlar certificates and overseas visitors’ registration. 

2. Issues for consideration. 

1. For fees and charges to be uplifted by inflation the 12-month Consumer Price Index (CPI) at July 2024 has been applied at a rate of 2.1% 

2. Various fees and charges set or advised by third parties have been increased including charges for Special Police Services, and third-party use of cell accommodation.  

3. The Government laid a Statutory Instrument on 14 January 2025 to increase firearms licensing fees to full cost recovery from 5 February 2025.  On average there will be a 132% increase to charge rates and a corresponding increase to forecast income in 2025/26 subject to demand remaining stable. 

4. The NPCC guidance on fees and charges is to apply the change in rates on a calendar year basis. In order to be consistent with this the proposed rates will come into effect from 1 March 2025, and a further review will be submitted in the Autumn to regularise the change in fees and charges to be effective from 1 January 2026.  Subsequent reviews will be on a rolling 12-month basis thereafter. 

3. Financial Comments. 

1. The proposed increases in fees and charges is estimated to lead to an increase in income of £1,260,000 from £20,520,000 to £21,780,000, subject to demand remaining stable.  

2. VAT will be accounted for at the appropriate rate according to the tax point date and in line with the HM Revenue and Customs guidance on the VAT treatment of charges made by the police (VAT: Government and Public Bodies). 

4. Legal Comments. 

1. The MPS Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) assures that MOPAC has the legal power to charge third parties for goods and services under section 15 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and to charge for the provision of special police services under section 25 of the Police Act 1996. 

2. The legislation referred to above does not specify how the charges should be calculated but the case law and NPCC guidance referred to in this report allows the MOPAC to increase its charges to reflect its increased costs caused by inflation. 

3. Section 25 provides the legal power to charge for SPS. MPS charges are reflective of NPCC National Policing Guidelines in that they are based upon full cost recovery but recognise that it is not permissible to make a profit within the confines of the legislation. 

4. Paragraph 4.7 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve “Changes to the level of all rents, fees and charges to be levied by MOPAC/MPS”. 

5. GDPR and Data Privacy. 

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

2. The MPS assure that the schedule of charges does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public, so there are no GDPR issues to be considered. 

6. Equality Comments. 

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. MPS assure that no positive or negative impact has been identified to any individual and/or group safeguarded by a protected characteristic including those who would fall under the ‘vulnerable’ category and for those who do not. There has been no new fees and charges set since the review in 2022/23 nor changes in the methodology for setting of fees, therefore, the Equality Impact Assessment remains applicable. 

7. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report - PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES 2025/26