- Thames Valley Police is set to receive an additional £12.6m in direct funding from the Home Office as part of this settlement
- Funding increased for a further 179 police officers in the second tranche of the national police officer uplift programme
Thames Valley is set to receive an additional £12.6m in its funding from the Home Office next year, as part of an overall funding package of £15.8 billion for policing across the country.
Including in the funding settlement announced today is over £400 million recruit 20,000 extra police officers by 2023, delivering on the promise made by the Conservatives in last year’s General Election. Thames Valley has already benefited from an additional 260 officers and has now been allocated funding for a further 179 officers.
In addition, Police & Crime Commissioners have been given the ability to increase the policing precept by up to £15 (for a Band D property). In Thames Valley this could generate an increase of more than £13m. Decisions on the level of council tax will be taken after consultation with the Chief Constable on the operational priorities for the Force, and how additional funding can go to support frontline crime fighting.
Speaking after the announcement, Matthew Barber said:
“Officers and staff at Thames Valley Police have been instrumental in keeping our community safe this year, and I pay tribute to them for their hard work and professionalism.
“I am delighted to see Thames Valley getting both additional funding and officers next year. More than half of the increased announced by the Home Office would have to come from local tax payers and we must be ever conscious of the harsh effects of coronavirus on many families this year. However the public overwhelmingly support the hard work of Thames Valley police officers and will welcome today’s announcement that more resources and more officers will be available to help cut crime and protect our communities.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“We have asked more of the police than ever before during the coronavirus pandemic – the British people and I are extremely grateful for their dedication.
“I am absolutely committed to giving the police the resources they need – this funding package delivers on that.
“It will allow us to continue to put more police on the streets, and reduce crime as we build back safer from the pandemic.”
