Crime-fight boss asks for more cash

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has asked the government to provide more cash for the force as the costs of coronavirus continue to increase.

He has told Home Office Minister Kit Malthouse saying more certainty around funding is vital if it is to meet government recruitment targets.

Mr Grunshaw said that since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak in March, the Lancashire force has spent an extra £795,000 responding to the crisis with the figure set to reach £1m by June.

This comes at a time when the government has asked it to make savings of over £86m.

Mr Grunshaw said: “In these unusual times we have seen the importance of the police and other frontline services.

“I have written to the police minister Kit

Malthouse to make sure that Lancashire will not be any worse off for responding to the coronavirus pandemic and seeking clarity.

“Whilst the government has allowed Lancashire Constabulary flexibility in how it is able to spend the grant provided for an additional 153 officers, there needs to be certainty in how we recoup the costs related to responding to coronavirus.

“The people of Lancashire will expect that their police service is not short-changed and that money spent responding to coronavirus is replaced in full by government. It should not be penalised for protecting its officers and the public.

“If we are to replace some of the 750 officers lost since 2010 and meet the government’s own recruitment targets then we need certainty over funding.”