Home Secretary announces £41 million extra police funding

27 February 2020

An extra £41 million will be shared between 18 forces to help cut crime, the Home Secretary has announced.

Priti Patel also announced a cross-Government crime and justice task force when she addressed a National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ summit in London yesterday.

“This extra funding is, of course, welcome and, coming on the back of the Government’s pledge to recruit 20,000 officers over the next three years, is a positive sign that the Home Office is prepared to invest in policing after years of under-funding,” says Tony Wetton, chair of Derbyshire Police Federation.

“However, we still need to see more investment and more done to support the police service. Cuts to police budgets have meant that the thin blue line has been thinner than ever. Crime, and particularly violent crime, has risen and our communities have missed the visible policing presence that we know they want to see.

“Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a new commitment to prioritise policing so that we can effectively serve our communities, fighting and preventing crime, keeping order and protecting the vulnerable.”

Ms Patel told chief officers and police and crime commissioners: “Crime is not going to go away overnight and so we need long-term strategies.

"I will do everything I can to ensure that police officers and our forces are equipped to meet the challenges they will face, but also to ensure you have the support you need.”

An eight-week public consultation on plans for a Police Covenant was also announced. The Covenant would enshrine in law the welfare of officers, police staff and their families.

The consultation will seek the views of police officers, their families and other stakeholders on how best to protect the physical health and mental wellbeing of police officers and also recognise their bravery and hard work.

Take part in the consultation survey.