Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Home Office has announced that it will allocate an extra £100m to neighbourhood policing in England and Wales, as part of the government’s initiative to push more officers on the ground by 2029. This new funding is in addition to a previous £100m announced in December to recruit 13,000 officers into neighbourhood roles. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that while the development might not take place overnight, this funding boost could draw more officers into town centers and rural areas. However, some police forces have cautioned that existing funding levels imply cuts to existing officers this year.
When the first tranche of money was announced last year, the National Police Chiefs Council stated that forces faced an anticipated £1.3bn deficit in their overall finances over the subsequent two years. Meanwhile, Lincolnshire Police has rejected its upcoming group of new cops due to financial challenges. Essex Police also reported that it planned to eliminate all 99 of its PCSOs (police community support officers) in response to a £5.3m shortfall in its budget.
Whilst the Home Office has specified this new funding arises from efficiencies outlined within the office, senior police sources have criticised the government’s lack of detail with regard to the new plans. They are questioning whether the money will be spent recruiting extra officers or on current gaps. A police source also asked if uniforms, cars and other expenses will be covered by the funding. Additionally, PCSOs are paid employees only sharing some of the abilities police officers have, which has further fuelled this controversy.
As the government publishes its final police funding settlement, it has made up to £17.5bn available for local police forces for the next year. The settlement will rely on police and crime commissioners choosing to increase council tax by £14 to pay for the additional funding. The government says that the allocation involves funding to cover the costs of salary adjustments and the increase in employer National Insurance contributions
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.