Our statement of accounts will tell you how we have spent our money during the financial year.  There will be two statements, one for the Chief Constable and one for the Police and Crime Commissioner. These statements of account are assessed by our auditors, to make sure we have secured economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of our resources.

The Auditors have a responsibility to review and comment upon the financial activities and to provide an opinion on whether the financial statements presents a fair view of the financial position, and whether they have been prepared in accordance with the appropriate regulations and proper professional practices.

For audits of the accounts Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited (PSAA) is responsible for appointing an auditor to principal local government and police bodies that have chosen to opt into its national auditor appointment arrangements.

The PSAA has confirmed the appointment of KPMG LLP to audit the accounts of Chief Constable for Bedfordshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire for five years from 2023/24 to 2027/28. This appointment is made under regulation 13 of the Local Audit (Appointing Person) Regulations 2015.

Previous auditors were BDO LLP and they expect to provide a disclaimed opinion of the 2021/22 and 2022/23 accounts due being unable to obtain sufficient evidence to conclude on whether the financial statements are materially mis-stated, this is due to the national backlog affecting local authority accounts. The government has set a backstop date to publish delayed final accounts by 13th December 2024 for all local authorities. Once Auditors Annual Reports are received by the Joint Audit Committee the accounts for these financial years will be finalised and KPMG’s audit report on the 2023/24 annual accounts will follow shortly after.