Conservative MP Esther McVey (Image: Getty)
Police forces are set to be millions of pounds a year worse off after national insurance tax raid.
West Midlands Police will be hit with an additional bill of £12.8 million next April, while Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police will have to shell out an extra £11.9 million and £11.1 million respectively.
The figures were revealed following Freedom of Information requests to the UK’s 45 police forces by Tory MP Esther McVey.
It comes as the Chancellor has faced an ongoing backlash for hiking national insurance contributions for employers in .
Former Cabinet minister Ms McVey said: “Not only is Rachel Reeves National Insurance tax rise on employers devastating for businesses and the wider economy, we now see the huge impact it is having on our public services like the police.
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“This is money which should be spent on frontline bobbies on the beat, rather than on an excessive tax bill.
“Even if the government were to recompense the police forces for this cost, it is still money that could have been spent on more officers rather than on more tax.
“This tax grab is not a one-off, it is something that will have to be paid year in, year out and the Chancellor needs to swallow her pride and reverse it immediately.”
Of the 33 forces that responded, West Midlands Police, Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police have the biggest bills.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland will have to pay around £10 million more a year.
The figure stands at £7 million for Merseyside Police, more than £6 million for Northumbria Police and Devon and Cornwall Police, and £5 million for Lancashire Constabulary.
The Chancellor used her Budget last October to increase the rate of national insurance for employers from 13.8% to 15% and drop the threshold at which the tax is paid from £9,100 per year to £5,000.
But the move has sparked warnings from businesses, charities and public services including GPs and dentists.
The Treasury has been contacted for comment.