Boris Johnson’s promise to recruit 20,000 more police officers over the next three years is already being delivered. I visited our local officers in Coleford as well as Gloucestershire Constabulary’s HQ last year so I am pleased that Gloucestershire is due to get its first allocation of 46 new officers soon.
The Conservatives went into the 2019 General Election with a new, tougher strategy to tackling crime – one which backs the brave men and women which serve in our police and security services by ensuring that they are equipped with the numbers and tools they need to protect themselves and others from harm.
Having received a clear mandate from the public, this Government has announced the biggest increase in funding for the policing system since 2010. The police funding settlement for 2020/21 will give police forces £700 million for the recruitment of 6,000 additional officers by the end of March 2021, which represents an increase of almost 10% on top of the core grant funding provided last year.
Taking all funding from the Government and PCCs’ precept raising power into account, up to an extra £1.1 billion will be available for investment in policing in 2020/21 – with Gloucestershire being expected to attract a cash increase of up to £8.2 million. This will see more money available to recruit, train and equip local police officers.
Alongside the increased investment set out above, the Government is also investing in national policing priorities which benefit all police forces across the country, including £516 million to improve police technology in 2020/21, which will upgrade critical infrastructure such as replacing the Airwave communication system with the 4G Emergency Services Network.
The Government will also invest over £200 million in 2020/21 to fight serious and organised crime, including the National Crime Agency top up and funding for new capabilities to tackle illicit finance and funding for Regional Organised Crime Units.
As a Conservative, I believe an essential part of our freedom is giving people the security they need to live their lives as they choose. To that end, I will continue to support this Government’s commitment to keeping people safe.