Chloe Smith MP welcomes biggest annual increase to police funding since 2010

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North has today welcomed news announced by the Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Police and the Fire Service, that Central Government will be making the biggest increase to police funding since 2010.

 

In total, the Government is announcing funding of up to £813m for Police and Crime Commissioners, combined with increases in CT police funding and investments in serious and organised crime, the Government is increasing total police funding across the country in 2019/20 by around £970m.

 

In Norfolk, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green, will receive a total increase in is budget of £11.2m. This figure includes £1.6m from the general Government grant increase, £8m for the Precept increase and an increase of £1.2m for police pensions.

 

In their letter to MPs, the Home Secretary and the Police Minister said: “We recognise that the police face significant financial pressures next year. This substantial increase in funding for the police system will enable forces to continue recruiting, fill crucial capability gaps, meet genuine pressures, drive through efficiency programmes, and improve their effectiveness by preventing crime and delivering better outcomes for victims of crime.”

 

“To ensure this investment is well spent, we will work with the police on four key areas next year that drive efficiency and effectiveness: delivering on the police’s ambition to procure efficiently and share back office services; working more productively, including through digital mobile working; filling the major capability gaps the independent inspectorate has identified in detectives and investigations; and supporting coordinated work to tackle serious and organised crime.”

 

Chloe comments: “The local police, like other police forces up and down the country, do an incredibly difficult job, in often very difficult circumstances and I want to recognise their dedication. I welcome this news of extra funding, it is good news for us here in Norfolk; it will enable to Police and Crime Commissioner to fill gaps in staffing and capacity and help to tackle crime, including serious, organised and cyber crime.”