Police Funding 2020-07-13
2020-07-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The debate is about increasing police funding amidst the backdrop of overall budget constraints affecting local authorities.
Money for additional police officers is welcomed across the board, even though it does not take police numbers back to pre-2010 levels. Surely the Minister would acknowledge, though, that baseline budgets in police forces are being cut again this year, and capital funding is almost non-existent, so unless the Secretary of State is able to win more money for policing generally, forces will be unable to keep the officers they have got.
The hon. Gentleman is obviously a cup-half-empty person rather than a cup-nearly-three-quarters-full person. The biggest settlement for policing in a decade should be welcomed by everybody across this House, as it has been across the whole of the policing family. But that is not to say that policing is not without challenges and that it cannot be more efficient. While we do want to see more police officers and a better response to crime, there is always the challenge in public services to do things better for less.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Policing in Nottinghamshire is ahead of the Government's recruitment target, having been the first force to introduce police officer degree apprenticeships.
Will the Minister join me in praising Nottinghamshire police for its quick recruitment efforts and increased diversity? Should such forward-looking forces be prioritised for additional funding?
I join in praising Nottinghamshire police for its forward-looking efforts and confirm our support for the force's endeavours to innovate and combat crime.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Evasion / No Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has promised an additional 20,000 police officers while reports suggest forces are facing up to 15% cuts due to the aftermath of austerity and the pandemic.
Despite promises for more frontline officers, forces face significant funding gaps with potential staff job cuts. Will the Minister commit to plugging these funding gaps from council precepts?
On a technical note, the primary liability is covered by the precepting authority which must pass on the precept in full. The spending review has not yet started; hence, any concerns are premature.
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Assessment & feedback
The technical aspects of funding mechanisms and the timing of the spending review.
Technical Note
Premature
Response accuracy