Government announces funding boost for police

The government has announced a £1 billion boost for policing across England and Wales.

The funding is part of government plans to restore neighbourhood policing and make streets safer.

As part of the government's Plan for Change, total police funding for next year will reach £19.5 billion.

£17.5 billion of the money will go to Police and Crime Commissioners, to tackle crime in their communities, rid town centres of antisocial behaviour and apprehend persistent offenders.

The money will include £339 million more for the police core grant to help forces with general running costs and to be allocated by forces to tackle local priorities; new funding of £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers, community support officers and special constable; and £65 million more for the National and International Capital City (NICC) grant for the London forces.

There is also an extra £140 million for Counter Terrorism Policing.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Today’s settlement provides a substantial increase in funding for policing to help deliver on this government’s Safer Streets mission. This vital funding boost will enable forces to kickstart the recruitment of neighbourhood police officers and crack down on the crimes blighting our high streets and town centres.

"We recognise the financial and operational challenges that police forces across the country have faced in recent years, and that is why we are providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.

"We will also work closely with forces at a national and regional level to maximise efficiency and innovation, so that every penny they receive goes as far as possible and provides real value for the public."

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "We are determined to deliver for the people up and down this country and make good on our promise to reform policing, halve knife crime and tackle anti-social behaviour head on.

"This settlement aims to do just that, providing a significant and substantial increase in funding that will allow polices forces to get a grip on criminality, to make our streets and communities safer."