John Redwood MP welcomes boost to police funding from the Conservative Government to cut crime and keep people safe across the Thames Valley
Having delivered on their manifesto commitment to recruit 20,000 new police officers, the Conservative Government are making sure the police have the funding they need. That is why next year police forces will receive up to £843 million to better protect the public, so that every officer and community has the support and resources they need to cut crime, protect the public and build confidence in policing.
The Conservative Government is ensuring the police have the necessary resources to clamp down on crime, making our communities better and safer places to live.
John Redwood has welcomed additional police funding totalling £584.6 m for the Thames Valley which is an increase of £38.9 million on last year – 7.1per cent.
This funding is part of a total of £843 million to better protect the public. Additional funding will help make sure that crime is effectively tackled by the police and people are kept safe in Wokingham.
This new funding is a 30.7 per cent rise in cash terms compared to 2019-20, as part of the Conservative Government’s long-term efforts to cut crime and keep our communities safe. The proposed package for 2024-25 could see a total of up to £18.4 billion pledged to support the police to cut crime, tackle anti-social behaviour and pursue county lines gangs.
This announcement comes weeks after the Conservative Government’s introduction of five new pieces of legislation to keep our streets safe. These will ensure criminals are locked up for longer, victims are protected, with police and intelligence services given further powers to protect us, delivering on the promise to clamp down on crime.
The Conservatives have already delivered on their commitment to recruit 20,000 more police officers, putting more police on our streets and cracking down on crime. Since the Conservatives came to office in 2010, their zero-tolerance approach to crime has worked, with crime down by 50 per cent, excluding fraud. Meanwhile, in areas run by Labour Police and Crime Commissioners, crime was 34 per cent higher last year than in Conservative run areas.
The Conservative Government is laser focused on taking the long-term decisions required to tackle crime in our communities, whilst continuing to support victims in Wokingham and across the country.
Commenting, John Redwood said:
“This additional funding for our police from the Conservative Government is excellent news for Wokingham. This funding, alongside the 784 new police officers in the Thames Valley will make our streets safer and help cut crime.
“The Conservatives are taking a tough stance on all crime and delivering the long-term decisions needed for a brighter future.”
Commenting, Home Secretary James Cleverly said:
“Our communities deserve a well-funded and equipped force, dedicated to making our country safer.
“Progress has been made, with overall crime down and 136,000 violent offences prevented since 2019, but we will continue to invest in policing.
“That is why we are putting up to £843 million more into keeping our streets safe, so that every officer and community has what they need to cut crime, protect the public and build confidence in policing.”
