Extracts from Home Office questions - Apr 1

Tuesday, 2 April 2019 07:46

Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD) 19. Cumbria saw a 27% increase in crime last year—the third biggest increase in the country. With only eight police officers covering most of my constituency—an area the size of Greater London—that is hardly surprising, but it is dangerous and unacceptable. Will the Minister intervene immediately and provide the police and crime commissioner with the...Request free trial

Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)

19. Cumbria saw a 27% increase in crime last year—the third biggest increase in the country. With only eight police officers covering most of my constituency—an area the size of Greater London—that is hardly surprising, but it is dangerous and unacceptable. Will the Minister intervene immediately and provide the police and crime commissioner with the resources needed to keep our police officers and communities safe? [910143]

The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd)

More money is going into policing, including in Cumbria, and more police officers are being recruited, including in Cumbria. Cumbria constabulary is rated good for efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join me in congratulating its hard-working officers on achieving that.

Sandy Martin (Ipswich) (Lab)

In addition to our need for police officers, public interface, intelligence gathering, evidence processing and so on depend on police staff. Does the Minister accept that the 30% cut in Suffolk police staff and the 72% cut in police community support officers since 2010 have reduced the capacity to investigate serious crime?

Mr Hurd

I have candidly recognised in the House that our police system has been under pressure, which is why we have increased public investment. As a result, Police and Crime Commissioners across the country are recruiting, at the last count, around 3,000 officers, plus additional staff. I am mystified as to why the hon. Gentleman voted against it.

Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)

T3. I am concerned that the Labour police and crime commissioner in the west midlands is maintaining large reserves to be spent in advance of the PCC elections next year. Is there anything the Government can do to stop this? [910152]

The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd)

The west midlands police and crime commissioner is one of many PCCs who were asking for more public money while, at the same time, putting public money aside to increase their reserves. We have increased the funding to west midlands police, and I hope my hon. Friend will welcome that. However, we also require Police and Crime Commissioners to publish transparent strategies of how they intend to use their reserves. It is public money given by the public for investment in policing.