In 2017, I campaigned for the Government to give Police and Crime Commissioners the flexibility to increase their Band D precept by up to £12 in 2018/19, without the need to call a local referendum. Additional funding from this policy was set aside for 150 new police officers in Essex, including 12 in our local area.
However, I now understand that upcoming cost pressures may constrain future investment and I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask that more funding be provided for our police. You can read more about https://www.gileswatling.co.uk/news/giles-lobbies-more-police-funding this here:
I have also met with the new Chief Constable of Essex Police, BJ Harrington, to better understand his priorities for future investment.
In the Budget, the Government committed an additional £160m for counter terrorism police funding, and I understand that the Home Secretary will review police spending power and further options for reform when he presents the provisional police funding settlement in December.
I look forward to the publication of that settlement, which I will watch closely, and will stay close to this issue ahead of the Spending Review next year.
