Extra funding needed to fight crime

27 February 2020

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Geoff Bardell has urged the Government to provide extra funding for all forces to tackle crime.

Geoff says a decade of cuts in funding and police numbers has left all forces in England and Wales stretched.

He was speaking after the Home Secretary pledged an extra £41.5 million to be shared across 18 forces to help cut crime.

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.

Geoff said: “This is a welcome announcement by the Home Secretary, particularly on the back of the Government’s pledge to recruit 20,000 new officers.

“It’s pleasing to hear she is continuing to voice her commitment to policing and secure the funds needed to tackle rising crime, but it has to be just the start.

“We need additional and continued investment right across the service and for every force to be able to do what our communities expect of us.

“That means extra funding for all forces so that we tackle the rising levels of crime, keep order and protect the vulnerable in our society.”

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 get the support you need.”

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

Take part in the consultation survey.