Funding plea to Chancellor from Hertfordshire’s police and crime commissioner and chief constable

Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Ash-Edwards, and Chief Constable Andy Prophet have written to the Chancellor urging her to prioritise sustained investment in policing.

Their intervention follows concerns in the national media that the Home Office is faring badly in funding negotiations ahead of Wednesday’s (June 11) Spending Review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Police chiefs have warned that the Government will not be able to keep its promises of reducing knife crime and violence against women and girls without further investment. Nationally, they fear policing faces a £1.3 billion shortfall in funding.

In Hertfordshire, the commissioner and chief constable are concerned that progress being made locally to boost officer numbers, strengthen neighbourhood policing and tackle priorities in the new Police & Crime Plan could be put at risk.

Mr Ash-Edwards said: “Hertfordshire currently has more police officers than ever before and an ambitious plan to fight crime and make the county safer. It is essential that the spending review doesn’t put this at risk.

“Policing faces significant demands and pressures and now needs a sustained funding boost to deliver on local and national crime-fighting priorities. Hertfordshire is one of the lower-funded police forces nationally, with the fifth lowest council tax precept.

“Effective policing and crime prevention are a sensible investment. We know in Hertfordshire that living in a safe community is the foundation of a good quality of life and economic prosperity. Common sense must prevail on police budgets.

“The last year has seen an unfunded pay award, the hike in National Insurance contributions not fully reimbursed as promised and new proposals to weaken sentences for many crimes, which is likely to increase the burden on policing. It is essential that a different direction is set out in the spending review next week”.

Mr Prophet said: “As the new chief constable, my priorities are to fight crime, arrest criminals and build public trust and confidence. We are doing this by tackling violent and sexual crime, street robbery, burglary, car and shop theft.

“It is essential that policing has the resources needed to deliver on local priorities as well as the Government’s missions to reduce knife crime and violence against women and girls.

“My officers and staff are working tirelessly to keep Hertfordshire safe. They need a fair pay deal, fully funded, which is also essential to allow me to recruit and retain more police officers and PCSOs to strengthen neighbourhood policing.

“I urge the Government to be bold and ensure policing has the funding settlement needed to strengthen the fight against crime nationally and in Hertfordshire”.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is the only cabinet minister yet to agree a deal with the Treasury before Wednesday's Spending Review by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The statement sets out how much money the Chancellor has chosen to give departments for day-to-day spending and investment.