The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sajid
Javid):...Sixthly, we are supporting the police response
to serious violence. We know that the demands on police are high,
and rising violent crime is stretching them even further. That is
why we are giving them the support they need, raising police
funding by up to £970 million next year, including council tax. I
am delighted that Police
and Crime Commissioners collectively plan
to strengthen their forces as a result and are consulting on plans
to use their additional funding to recruit 2,800 officers. This
will help to fight serious violence on the ground. It represents
the biggest uplift in police funding since 2010, yet it is notable
that some Members did not vote for the
settlement...
(Witham) (Con): It is
a pleasure to speak in this debate, which has great significance.
The first duty of the state is to protect its citizens; that is
why we have our outstanding armed forces, and why we have the
police and the criminal justice system. I commend the police
officers across my county of Essex. They often put themselves in
harm’s way to do the right thing—to protect the public and bring
to justice those responsible for serious crime. On that point, I
give a special commendation to our police and crime commissioner,
, and to our new chief
inspector, BJ Harrington. Essex borders London and is part of the
home counties. We face a range of issues, which the Home
Secretary mentioned, including county lines and the associated
criminality, which can travel quickly...
(Chelmsford)
(Con):...Fighting crime is not just about the police,
however, but about partnerships. Our excellent police and crime
commissioner in Essex, , who has been mentioned
before, asked me to mention the violence and vulnerability
strategy, which we have had in place since last summer, and which
brings together partners to work on prevention and intervention.
It was the first framework of its nature in the country. I also
thank the Home Office for the £664,000 it
invested in the early intervention youth fund, which was matched
by £500,000 from the county council. Such measures are positive
incentives to getting partners aligned and have a positive
impact...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the
Home Department (Victoria Atkins):...I was delighted to
see the video on the social media pages of my hon. Friend the
Member for Chelmsford. I also want to thank
the Police and Crime Commissioners and
those in the voluntary sector do so much work with these young
people. We heard tonight about the great work of Redthread, and
there are many more charities that help us in this sphere. No one
should have to face the pain and devastation that violent crime
can cause a person, a family and a community, and by working
together we will stop this...
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