‘The police cannot do more with less’ despite new funding allocation
COMMISSIONER SAYS £11M EXTRA WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS YEARS OF AUSTERITY CUTS
POLICE in Leicestershire will receive an extra £11 million this year to increase officer numbers and fight cyber-terrorism – but it is not enough, says the police and crime commissioner.
Across the UK, police forces will receive a 4 per cent increase in funding for the financial year beginning in April.
However, the county’s police and crime commissioner, Lord (Willy) Bach, said the number of police officers would still be far below what is needed.
He said: “After a decade of damaging police cuts, it is still not immediately clear if the government is taking the challenges facing policing and public safety seriously enough.
“While we still have to work through the detail of (the latest) statement, it is clear we will be asked to deliver efficiency savings and that the government expects council tax-payers to pay more towards policing.
“We still have fewer police officers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland than we had a decade ago.
“Since that time, the population has grown by 10 per cent.
“The police cannot do more with less and it is disappointing. Crime has risen as a result.
“We are facing difficult decisions in the coming weeks but the safety of our communities has to be the priority for all of us.”
The number of police officers in the UK has dropped sharply since 2010, due to austerity measures introduced by the Conservative and
Liberal Democrat coalition government.
However, more are now being hired again and police officer numbers have risen by 89 in Leicestershire in the past year.
The increase in police funding was announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel, who said the extra funding would also be used to bolster counter-terrorism policing.
She said the money was also necessary to help the country recover from the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
She said: “We have asked more of the police than ever before during the coronavirus pandemic – the British people and I are extremely grateful for their dedication.”
Rupert Matthews, the Conservative candidate hoping to replace Lord Bach at the election for the post in May, welcomed the money for the Leicestershire force.
He said: “Officers and staff have been instrumental in keeping our community safe this year and I pay tribute to them for their hard work and professionalism.
“I am delighted to see Leicestershire getting an additional £11 million next year.
“The Conservative government was elected last year on a promise to get more officers on to the streets and to ensure our police have what they need to keep us safe.
This government is now doing exactly that – ensuring we build back safer as we recover from coronavirus.”
Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, pictured right, also hailed the new money.
He said: “The government has been very clear on its promise to get more officers on to the streets and to ensure the police have all they need to keep us safe and I am proud to see them delivering on this promise.”
We have fewer police officers than a decade ago (and) since then the population has grown by 10 per cent
Lord Bach