PENARTH MP Stephen Doughty has criticised the ‘shambolic’ handling of the national police funding formula by the Home Office.

It comes after the policing minister revealed to the Commons that the department had been using the wrong data to calculate the levels of funding police forces across the UK would receive.

South Wales Police is set to lose out by as much as £15.5 million in the next financial year - in what is the fourth biggest loss across the country.

Questioning Tory minister Mike Penning in the Commons last week, Mr Doughty criticised the Home Office for the error and reiterated his demand that Cardiff be examined in line with other capital cities across the UK, given its responsibilities as a capital city and its hosting of major international sporting, political and other events.

“This embarrassing apology from the minister today shows what a shambles the Home Office is in,” he said.

“Just days after attempting to defend huge further cuts to frontline policing, they have potentially wasted hours of planning by police forces including South Wales Police, by providing the wrong data.

“The minister has apologised, but serious questions have to be asked about whether policing in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is being given its fair share of funding – particularly given the specific challenges the area faces and the region’s ever prominent role on the national and global stage.”

In response Mike Penning, minister for policing, crime, criminal justice and victims, said:

"The current model for allocating police funding, is complex, opaque and out of date. That is why we have consulted on principles for reform of funding arrangements for the police in England and Wales, ensuring they are fair, robust and transparent.

"We have always been clear that we will only be successful in achieving our aim of building a fit-for-purpose and sustainable model with considerable input from policing partners.

"We have listened to their views and are minded to delay the proposed changes to the funding formula next year. We will seek the views of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and the National Police Chiefs' Council before going any further.”