The Minister highlighted the significant increase in police funding, including the recruitment of 6,620 additional officers as part of an uplift programme. He also mentioned £180 million for combating serious and organised crime, £500 million for Home Office-led police technology programmes, and a new CT operations centre receiving £32 million. The Minister expressed gratitude to all those working tirelessly in the pandemic and emphasised the need to protect officers from assaults.

Mr Hollobone questioned the Minister about an increase in attacks on police officers during the pandemic, with 130 reported cases of coughing, spitting or biting between February and November last year, up from 110 the previous year. He expressed concern over this rise in assaults on emergency workers.

The Labour MP emphasised that warm words were not enough recognition for police officers during the pandemic, calling on the Government to prioritise them in vaccine roll-outs. He highlighted a 50% increase in attacks on police over five years and linked this to cuts in essential services like youth clubs and mental health support. Thomas-Symonds criticised the Conservative Party's handling of public safety and called for better diversity within policing, including initiatives to improve recruitment from diverse backgrounds.

Loder intervened on Thomas-Symonds' speech, disagreeing with the latter's claim that the Government were giving warm words in their commitment to the police. He questioned whether Labour supported real prioritisation of police workers.

Mr. Hollobone thanked the Government for extra funding in local policing and highlighted the work done by Chief Constable Nick Adderley, Chief Fire Officer Darren Dovey, and police commissioner Stephen Mould. He noted that 57 new officers have been added to take the total headcount to 1,300 in Northamptonshire, with an ultimate target of about 1,500 by 2023. Residents pay £5 a week for policing on average. He discussed county lines drug gangs, automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR), assaults on police officers, and the roll-out of Tasers to frontline officers.

Tributes the hard work of Merseyside Police and police forces nationwide, highlighting a decade of Conservative austerity leading to almost 24,000 fewer staff in policing since 2010. Criticises government for not replacing cut roles such as PCSOs and police staff despite promises to recruit more officers. Expresses concern over the freezing of police pay during the pandemic and questions the impact on public safety and workforce retention. Raises issues with local council tax precept increases needed due to central Government cuts, stressing that it hits families struggling financially.

Praises police efforts during the pandemic and acknowledges government investment in increasing officer numbers. Mentions additional officers allocated to Devon and Cornwall which have improved morale locally. Requests Department support for a paid reserve special constabulary model, similar to Army reserves, particularly useful during peak tourist seasons. Also asks for home-based lateral flow Covid testing facilities for officers due to their need for regular shift work.

Pays tribute to the bravery and dedication of police officers during the pandemic, highlighting the strain they face. Criticises government cuts from 2010-2020, noting the reduction of 21,000 police officers and significant budget reductions in forces like Gwent Police. Emphasises that while the Government's police uplift programme is a step forward, it does not adequately address the damage caused by a decade of austerity. Points out that central government funding remains insufficient when adjusted for inflation and pay awards, leading to substantial real-term cuts over 12 years. Highlights local challenges faced by Gwent Police in maintaining neighbourhood policing despite budget reductions and increasing pressures from cyber-crime and organised crime. Criticises the inadequate Home Office capital grant and pension shortfall faced by forces like Gwent.

He thanked the police for their work, highlighted the increase in funding and number of officers over recent years, but expressed concern about budget sustainability. He noted that despite a 25% budget increase, the force faced significant overspends due to special grants that are not sustainable long-term. He emphasised the severity and profile of crime in Bedfordshire, noting higher numbers of organised criminal groups and county lines compared to other similar-sized forces. He also raised issues about resource concentration in urban centres and lack of resilience within the force. He highlighted historical underfunding dating back to 2004 and called for fair recognition and sustainable funding solutions from the Government.

Crime has risen by 45% since 2015, with a 10% increase in domestic abuse offences. Only one in fourteen crimes leads to a charge. Police funding is being cut while local taxpayers are burdened with increased precept costs. The police and crime commissioner plans to replace specialised staff roles with new constables, which will be more expensive and less effective.

Cleveland has high crime rates and a history of institutional issues under Labour leadership. A new acting police and crime commissioner is working to improve the force, with 159 more officers on Cleveland’s streets. The Government will provide better equipment like Tasers and body-worn cameras for frontline officers. Greater powers to stop and search and tougher sentencing are also part of the strategy.

Expressed gratitude towards Bedfordshire police officers and staff, criticised the current funding model as structurally flawed which has left Bedfordshire under-resourced for years. Noted that due to inadequate central government funding, Bedfordshire police relies on yearly one-off special grants to tackle serious crime without overspending, inhibiting their ability to plan ahead. Highlighted findings from Crest Advisory showing an increase in police demand with continued underfunding and understaffing.

Acknowledged the work done by Suffolk police despite challenging circumstances, noted that while there is a proposed funding increase of £7.4 million coupled with a maximum council tax increase of £15 per band D household, this does not address the issue of central government underfunding relative to other forces. Emphasised the need for a review of the police funding formula as part of the next comprehensive spending review and requested a three-year settlement for better long-term planning.

Highlighted the Conservative Government's commitment to increasing police numbers and providing necessary funding, noting that West Yorkshire Police has been bolstered by an additional 308 officers in the first year of a major recruitment drive. Welcomed the publication of the police funding settlement for 2021-22 which provides £512.3 million to West Yorkshire Police, an increase from last year's funding. Emphasised that increased budgets should lead to positive and measurable outcomes.

Fuller emphasises the need for better funding for Bedfordshire police under the national funding formula, acknowledging the efforts of local officers and praising Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway. He highlights the challenges faced by Bedfordshire police, including dealing with airport security, motorway networks, urban issues, and rural crime. Fuller calls on the Minister to provide a clear strategy that supports the Conservative manifesto commitment to increasing police numbers in Bedfordshire and to focus on drug rehabilitation programmes proposed by Festus Akinbusoye, the PCC candidate.

Longhi thanks the Home Secretary for her support of all UK police forces and highlights increased funding and officer numbers in the West Midlands. However, he criticises the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in Dudley North and across the West Midlands, stating that despite significant financial investment, violent crime has more than doubled since 2015. He calls for better local decision-making from PCCs to effectively deploy police resources. Longhi also mentions the closure of several police stations while substantial funds are spent on headquarters refurbishment, questioning the leadership and competence of the current Labour PCC.

Commends Chief Constable James Vaughan of Dorset Police and the whole force for their work, particularly over the last year. Acknowledges the outgoing police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill's service. Highlights the commitment to fund and grow the capability of the police with an uplift of £7.7 million in Dorset, resulting in 39 more police officers. Expresses concern about county lines activity in rural areas and urges the Minister to review the police funding formula.

Welcomes the £15.8 billion settlement with a rise of £636 million for police funding, which surpasses recruitment targets despite the pandemic. Highlights the exemplary work of Chief Constable Simon Bailey in Norfolk and his commitment to digital investment. Acknowledges the increase in core funding and the addition of 90 more frontline officers in Norfolk. Emphasises the importance of effective police and crime commissioners.

Ms Sarah Jones thanked police officers and staff for their efforts during the pandemic, criticising the government's response to policing issues. She highlighted a pay freeze and lack of vaccine information as concerning, while also addressing the funding formula which she claimed was outdated and unfair, affecting Northumbria and Surrey negatively. She noted that although overall funding increased by £636 million, this included an additional burden of £600 million for emergency services network costs. Jones emphasised a real-terms funding gap of £2.2 billion compared to 2010 and the impact on charge rates and justice delivery. She detailed cuts in police workforce, affecting investigations, domestic abuse response, and intelligence work, leading to an 'act of desperation' by local authorities. Jones called for more support for violence reduction units (VRUs) across high-violent crime areas like Cleveland, and urged the government to address rising violent crimes with a public health approach.

The Minister acknowledges that this debate has been challenging due to the pressures on UK policing. He praises the bravery of police officers and expresses gratitude for the cross-party support shown during discussions. The Minister notes the Government's commitment to addressing issues such as funding, vaccinations for police officers, and tackling serious crime. He also emphasises the importance of collaboration between chief constables and police and crime commissioners in ensuring effective policing.

Announced the result of a deferred Division on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers and Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The Ayes were 526 and the Noes were 24, so the Ayes have it.