The UK Government has announced an additional £100 million investment into neighbourhood policing as part of efforts to increase the number of officers on the streets.
This follows the £100 million commitment made in December, which aims to add 13,000 more police officers across England and Wales by 2029.
The new funding, set to be allocated in the next financial year, will help forces increase patrols and bolster community policing.
Each police force will submit plans for using the funds, with an emphasis on expanding officer presence in neighbourhoods by early spring.
This funding boost comes after the government set out a provisional 3.5% real-terms increase in funding, amounting to £986.9 million.
While this is a step in the right direction, it still falls short of the £1.3 billion that chief constables stated is needed to bridge the funding gaps facing forces over the next two years.
Despite the increase, some forces have raised concerns about the sustainability of current funding levels. Chief Constable Paul Sanford, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for finance, highlighted that the funding settlement presents “real challenges” and warned it could lead to cuts across various police forces.
Lincolnshire Police, for example, reported a £14 million funding gap for next year and is exploring the possibility of reducing its officer numbers by up to 1,000 by 2029. Essex Police also confirmed that all employees could be affected by the necessary cuts.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the extra £100 million for neighbourhood policing as a “major turning point” for policing in the UK. She stated, “By doubling extra neighbourhood funding to £200m, we are giving forces across the country what they need to put more officers and PCSOs where they’re needed most – on our streets and in our town centres.”
Cooper emphasized the importance of restoring local policing and ensuring every neighbourhood has dedicated officers who understand residents’ concerns and can tackle issues before they escalate.
She added, ” “This investment, alongside new powers we are bringing into law, will help prevent crime and protect our communities, which is at the heart of our Plan for Change.”
The announcement of the additional £100 million comes ahead of the publication of the final Police Funding Settlement on Friday. The total funding allocated to police forces for the next year will reach up to £17.5 billion.
While this funding will help address immediate challenges, many forces remain concerned about long-term sustainability and the increasing pressure on police services across the country.