Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Police Resources

Monday 6 February 2023 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister confirmed a police funding settlement of up to 17.2 billion for 2023-24.
  • Government has introduced a programme resulting in 435 new police officers in Lancashire.
  • Minister highlighted the arrest of thousands of individuals and closure of 2,900 county lines through a successful programme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Flick Drummond Con
Policing & Resources
Context

The question is prompted by concerns about police funding and resource allocation, particularly in areas with high crime rates or insufficient policing.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase police resources. I am concerned that many parts of the UK face a lack of adequate police presence due to underfunding and staffing shortages.

Answer from Suella Braverman

On 31 January, the Government confirmed a total police funding settlement of up to £17.2 billion for 2023-24, an increase of up to £287 million on this year, providing the police with the resources to fight crime and keep the public safe. As a result of our police uplift programme, we are on track to meet our target of 20,000 new police officers, meaning that England and Wales will have the most police officers ever.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not directly address whether Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary will receive funding on par with other areas. It mentions a consultation but does not confirm specific adjustments.

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Q2 Sara Britcliffe
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The issue is prompted by the negative effects of antisocial behaviour on businesses in constituencies like Hyndburn and Haslingden, which experience high costs and security concerns.

Question

I welcome the work this Government are doing to increase police resources and tackle antisocial behaviour. However, it is not just individuals who are impacted; businesses also face associated costs and fear for their staff. Will my right hon. and learned Friend work with me to see how we can address this issue for businesses on our high streets?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I share my hon. Friend's deep concern about antisocial behaviour, and I was pleased to discuss the issue with her very recently. She will obviously be aware of the 435 new police officers on the ground in Lancashire, thanks to this Government. She will also be aware of the 18% fall in neighbourhood crime in Lancashire since 2019, thanks to this Government, and the £1 million safer streets funding in Lancashire, thanks to this Government.

Answered
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Q3 Dean Russell
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question arises from the need for sustained support to dismantle criminal gangs after initial police operations. The context includes dawn raids by local law enforcement in Watford.

Question

In Watford, I have been fortunate enough to join dawn raids and have seen at first hand the important work the police do in tackling serious and organised crime. However, once the police successfully carry out these types of operations across the country, it is important the right support is in place to maintain security within the community. Will my right hon. and learned Friend please confirm what further support is in place to ensure the long-term dismantling of these awful gangs and to guarantee that no new criminals take over and reinstate the lines of supply to this criminality?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent work in Watford, working hard for the communities he serves. Through our successful county lines programme the police have arrested thousands of individuals and closed down 2,900 county lines. The programme focuses on charging line holders, ensuring we put offenders behind bars and putting deal lines out of action.

Answered
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Q4 Flick Drummond Con
Policing & Resources
Context

The question stems from concerns over historically low police funding in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, leading to potential disparities compared to other regions.

Question

Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary is one of the lowest-funded police forces by central Government. Can my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that this historically unfair funding settlement will be looked at, and that the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can look forward to the same levels of funding as similar areas?

Answer from Suella Braverman

We will be consulting very shortly on police funding formulas, but I am very pleased that the excellent police and crime commissioner in Hampshire, Donna Jones, has made very good use of the funding flexibility that I brought into force very recently by raising the precept. That will increase the amount of funding available to the frontline in policing, and together with the safer streets funding and millions of pounds for violence reduction units, it will mean more police, less crime and safer streets in Hampshire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response mentions a consultation but does not confirm specific adjustments or equalisation of funding levels for Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

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Q5 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Mental Health
Context

The question is prompted by the tragic events in Plymouth in 2021, leading to a community request for better integration of mental health data with gun control measures.

Question

Linking police records of gun certificates to medical databases was a key ask of the community in Plymouth after the tragedies we suffered in 2021. How is that linking of GP records with police-held databases and other medical records going, and what additional policing resources is the Home Secretary making available to ensure that, no matter where in the country someone lives, if they present to their medical professional with a mental health issue, it will be clear to that medical professional whether they have a firearm?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point about access to firearms or other weapons for people with a track record or indication of mental health vulnerabilities. We must wait for the coroner report to be issued, so I will not comment substantively, but we are looking very closely at this and I hope to report on it in due course.

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Q6 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Policing & Resources Women & Equalities
Context

The issue is raised due to recent instances of misogyny and sexism within police forces, impacting public confidence.

Question

There have been too many examples of misogyny and sexism in public services in recent times. Can the Home Secretary reassure the House that sufficient resources will be provided to clear out the worst offenders and help change the culture so we can once again have confidence in our important police services?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The hon. Gentleman is right that recent instances have really shaken confidence in the whole of the policing family throughout the country, and although there are many thousands of professional, expert men and women who put themselves forward every day, it is clear that policing must do better. That is why I have asked the College of Policing to strengthen the statutory code of practice for police vetting, we have tasked the Angiolini inquiry to look into the specifics of the David Carrick case, and we have commissioned the inspectorate to conduct a rapid review of all forces' response to the inspectorate's recent review into vetting and counter-corruption.

Answered
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Q7 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Children & Families
Context

The concern is over increased county lines drug-running and child exploitation reported by headteachers and health professionals in North Shropshire.

Question

North Shropshire is obviously a safe place to live, I am very glad to say. However, headteachers and health professionals have recently reported to me an increase in county lines drug-running activities and child exploitation. Can the Home Secretary confirm that North Shropshire will receive additional police resource, particularly at night-time, and the multi-agency approach we need to close down these county lines gangs?

Answer from Suella Braverman

There has been considerable success through our county lines programme over the last few years, shutting down over 2,000 county lines across the country and making thousands of arrests of those caught up in propagating this evil behaviour of drug supply. It is vital that we go further and that this success reaches every part of the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not specifically confirm additional resources for North Shropshire.

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Q8 Sarah Jones Lab Croydon West
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts Economy
Context

The question is prompted by the Home Secretary's reduction in government funding for forensic services and a £62 million cut to local police forces. The context includes statistics indicating 30,000 rapes occur during the Prime Minister's first 100 days, with only about 320 leading to charges.

Question

During the Prime Minister's first 100 days in office around 30,000 people will have been raped and only about 320 of those rapes will ever lead to a charge. The Home Secretary has responded by slashing Government funding for forensics and cutting this year's funding for local police forces by £62 million. Is that due to the Government's disastrous mini-Budget, their failure to grow the economy over 13 years, or have they simply given up on tackling violence against women and girls?

Answer from Suella Braverman

We have increased police funding by over half a billion pounds, introduced more flexibility so that police and crime commissioners can increase their frontline resources. We are on track to achieve the highest number of police officers in history thanks to our funding and policies. We are pioneering the roll-out of Operation Soteria to improve operational support for victims of rape and serious sexual offences throughout investigations and introducing specialist measures in court to ensure appropriate evidence-giving procedures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific reduction in forensic services funding was not addressed directly, nor the £62 million cut to local police forces.

How: Get With The Programme, Get With Reality

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