The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings has undertaken an urgent review of the financial position facing the South Yorkshire Police budget following yesterday’s announcement by the Home Secretary of a special grant of £10.7 million.

The early review to establish the costs facing the Force, and the public of South Yorkshire indicate that the shortfall between the grant and estimated total costs could be in the region of £6 million. These costs relate to the legal obligation to support both the current Chief Constable, and the eight former and serving officers who have been granted ‘interested person’ status and called to give evidence into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool Football Club fans at Hillsborough in 1989.

The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This figure is a very early estimation of the costs that we face. We have not yet received the invoices for January to March 2015, a period where there was significant witnesses giving evidence at the inquests.

“My office will continue to analyse the true impact on the budget and the effect that this will have on the provision of police services within South Yorkshire.

“This estimated figure, and therefore the estimated shortfall, does not take into account other potential special grant applications for other police officers who have applied for financial assistance, nor the continued representation of those currently covered by the special grant that will continue to be represented during 2015/16.

“I repeat my warning of yesterday, that this is very bleak news for the financial position of South Yorkshire Police and we have a lot of work to do, including continued dialogue with the Home Secretary to establish a way forward that will relieve the burden on the public of South Yorkshire.”