Police forces across the South West to receive funding boost
The 'substantial' increase is being funded by an increase in National Insurance
In what's been described as a 'substantial increase' across the South West, Police and Crime Commissioners are being handed millions of pounds in funding to help keep our streets safe.
It's part of the Government's Plan for Change, and is being funded from an increase in National Insurance contributions.
The money is hoped to help tackle anti-social behaviour, restore neighbourhood policing and make our streets safer.
Next year, all forces in the South West of England will see a funding increase of at least 5% - with Wiltshire Police getting the largest percentage increase.
This includes:
- £455 million for Devon and Cornwall, a cash increase of 5.9%
- £436 million for Avon and Somerset, a cash increase of 6%
- £191 million for Dorset, a cash increase of 6%
- £171 million for Wiltshire, a cash increase of 6.2%
- £167 million for Gloucestershire, a cash increase of 5.9%
Nationally, the government is adding an additional billion pounds to bolster the policing system across the country, taking the total allocation of the provisional police settlement fund to up to £19.5 billion for England and Wales.
The majority of this funding will be given to Police and Crime Commissioners and Mayors.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Today’s settlement provides a substantial increase in funding for policing to help deliver on this Government’s Safer Streets mission, fundamental to our Plan for Change. This vital funding boost will enable forces to kickstart the recruitment of neighbourhood police officers and crack down on the crimes blighting our high streets and town centres.
“We recognise the financial and operational challenges that police forces across the country have faced in recent years, and that is why we are providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.
“We will also work closely with forces at a national and regional level to maximise efficiency and innovation, so that every penny they receive goes as far as possible and provides real value for the public.”
The provisional funding settlement will be central to the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and will help to deliver the manifesto pledge that policing will be bolstered and reformed to deliver for communities.
The government will put an extra 13,000 police and community support officers into our neighbourhoods, and dedicated neighbourhood police officers, who are visible, named and contactable, will be put back on the streets to work closely with residents and businesses.
The settlement also comes after the Home Secretary announced a major package of police reform, including a new Police Performance Unit to track local performance and drive up standards, and a new National Centre of Policing to harness new technology and forensics.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “We are determined to deliver for the people up and down this country and make good on our promise to reform policing, halve knife crime and tackle anti-social behaviour head on.
“This settlement aims to do just that, providing a significant and substantial increase in funding that will allow polices forces to get a grip on the criminality and make our streets and communities safer.”