Commissioner and Chief Constable urge Chancellor to prioritise sustained investment in policing and crime fighting in spending review

Ahead of Wednesday’s spending review, Hertfordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable have written to the Chancellor urging her to prioritise sustained investment in policing and crime fighting.

It follows concerns in the national media that the Home Office is faring poorly in negotiations and warnings from a number of Police Chiefs that the Government will not be able to keep its promises on reducing knife crime and violence against women and girls without further investment. Nationally, Chiefs have warned that policing faces a £1.3 billion shortfall in funding.

In Hertfordshire, the Commissioner and Chief Constable are concerned that progress being made locally to boost police officer numbers, strengthen neighbourhood policing and tackle local priorities in the new Police & Crime Plan could be put at risk.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said:

“Hertfordshire currently has more police officers than ever before and an ambitious plan to fight crime and make the county safer. It is essential that the spending review doesn’t put this at risk. Policing faces significant demands and pressures and now needs a sustained funding boost to deliver on local and national crime fighting priorities. Hertfordshire is one of the lower funded police forces nationally, with the fifth lowest council tax precept.

“Effective policing and crime prevention is a sensible investment. We know in Hertfordshire that living in a safe community is the foundation of good quality of life and economic prosperity. Common sense must prevail on police budgets.

“The last year has seen an unfunded pay award, the hike in National Insurance contributions not fully reimbursed as promised and new proposals to weaken sentences for many crimes which is likely to increase the burden on policing. It is essential that a different direction is set out in the spending review next week”.

Andy Prophet, Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said:

“As the new Chief Constable my priorities are to fight crime, arrest criminals and build public trust and confidence. We are doing this by tackling violent and sexual crime, street robbery, burglary, car and shop theft. It is essential that policing has the resources needed to deliver on local priorities as well as the Government’s missions to reduce knife crime and violence against women and girls.

“My officers and staff are working tirelessly to keep Hertfordshire safe. They need a fair pay deal, fully funded, which is also essential to allow me to recruit and retain more police officers and PCSOs to strengthen neighbourhood policing.

“I urge the Government to be bold and ensure policing has the funding settlement needed to strengthen the fight against crime nationally and in Hertfordshire”.