Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Police Resources

Monday 18 September 2023 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Total police funding stands at 17.2 billion this year, with frontline policing receiving an extra 550 million compared to last year.
  • The number of police officers in England and Wales reached 149,566, surpassing previous levels.
  • Every police force in the country will have funding for antisocial behaviour hotspot patrols starting from next April.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Tuckwell
Policing & Resources
Context

The MP is concerned about increasing police funding and resources.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase police resources. Total police funding stands at £17.2 billion this year, a record level with frontline policing receiving an extra £550 million compared to last year. The number of police officers in England and Wales reached 149,566, surpassing previous Labour levels.

Answer from Chris Philp

Total police funding stands at £17.2 billion this year, a record level with frontline policing receiving an extra £550 million compared to last year. The number of police officers in England and Wales reached 149,566, surpassing previous Labour levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for further measures was not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Paul Howell
Policing & Resources
Context

Durham faces funding pressures on both police and fire services with a low local tax base. The Labour police and crime commissioner's decision to move Newton Aycliffe police station is under scrutiny.

Question

Does the Minister agree that good plans help cost-effective delivery, and will he meet me to discuss funding and programme delivery for the police and fire services in Durham? Does he also agree that electing Robert Potts, the Conservative candidate for the next PCC elections in May, would be a far better outcome for the police in Durham?

Answer from Chris Philp

I will certainly meet with my hon. Friend, and yes, I do agree. Only today, PCC Donna Jones in Hampshire announced that she would be opening 10 new police counters, an example of what happens when we have sound Conservative policies in operation.

Not addressed: The specific ask for a meeting and agreement on the candidate's election was not addressed.

How: Changing Subject To Another Area

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Steve Tuckwell
Policing & Resources
Context

The Mayor of London planned to close Uxbridge police station, but was forced into a humiliating U-turn.

Question

My right hon. Friend will recall his recent visit to Uxbridge. Will he join me in calling for the Mayor of London to guarantee the future of Uxbridge police station as fully operational?

Answer from Chris Philp

Of course, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had planned to close down Uxbridge police station until my hon. Friend forced him into a humiliating U-turn before he was even elected. I join him in calling on the Mayor of London to keep Uxbridge police station open and to add that custody suite.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Holly Lynch Lab
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The area experienced a real escalation in antisocial behaviour and violent disorder, particularly around bonfire night.

Question

In my constituency, we have experienced a real escalation in antisocial behaviour and quite violent disorder in recent years, particularly around bonfire night. Last year, police had to deploy 100 officers to just one area of my constituency where local communities were being terrorised. What consideration has the Minister made of additional powers or resources for areas up and down the country that are anticipating further unacceptable disorder ahead of this year's bonfire night?

Answer from Chris Philp

Our antisocial behaviour plan envisages strengthening various antisocial behaviour powers. As of next April, every police force in the country will have funding for antisocial behaviour hotspot patrols. Every force will have that funding from next April, and the situation described sounds like the ideal use for those ASB hotspot patrols.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Tulip Siddiq Lab Hampstead and Highgate
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The shops and newsagents on Kilburn High Road are constantly targeted by criminals, who shoplift but also intimidate staff.

Question

When I raised the issue with the police, they said they receive 1,000 calls a day from central north London alone, limiting their ability to deal with it. What plans does the Minister have to increase the resources to deal with this sort of crime, especially retail theft?

Answer from Chris Philp

I strongly sympathise with those affected by shoplifting on Kilburn High Road. The Metropolitan police has a record number of police officers—about 35,000—and I have recently been in discussions with Amanda Blakeman to increase patrolling in shoplifting hotspot areas and to have a more comprehensive response from the police in terms of investigation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for further plans was not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email