CHESHIRE'S police and crime commissioner has welcomed the Government's decision to reschedule the implementation of the new police funding formula.

The formula, which determines how funding from the Home Office is distributed to police forces across England and Wales, is currently under review and a new approach was due for 2016-17.

This has now been put back12 months by MP Mike Penning, the policing minister.

Commissioner John Dwyer said he 'fully supports' the decision to delay.

He added: "The minister and the Home Secretary are right, the current formula is not fit for purpose and needs review, therefore it is essential that we get this right.

"Over the summer I have been working to shape both local and national responses to Government on the comprehensive spending review and the police funding formula.

"I am committed to working with the Home Office to ensure the impact of the funding challenges in Cheshire is fully understood and that Cheshire receives the funding that is needed to protect its communities.

"I will continue to help develop a new funding formula which is fair, robust, stable, transparent and future-proofed.

"The new timetable will allow further consideration of how the formula should be designed and enable the impact of the upcoming comprehensive spending review to be fully understood.

"I will continue to ensure that Cheshire has a voice that is heard and respected at a national level.

"We will face continued financial challenges in the coming years but working alongside the Home Office, and locally with Simon Byrne, the chief constable, I am determined that we will be in the best possible position to make the choices that will keep making Cheshire a safer place to live and continue to deliver an outstanding police force."