Priti welcomes police funding increases
Witham MP Priti Patel has welcomed an increase in funding for Essex Police announced by the Government. Total resources for Essex Police will rise by nearly £23m from £275.9m to £298.8m, and will include central government grants, funding support to assist with pensions related increases and changes to the precept. Priti, who has been working with Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to press the Government to provide more funding to support policing in the County, said:
“The increase in police funding is welcome and something I have been lobbying the Government for. Essex has been traditionally underfunded and this increase will help us to get more police out on the streets while meeting the growing pension costs.”
“This year we are seeing 150 more police officers in the County and hopefully we will be able to see investment in more frontline policing next year as a result of this settlement. I know that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is keen to see at least that many additional officers recruited again next year, and this funding should enable that to happen. I will now be working with Essex Police to ensure we get additional policing into the Witham constituency to bring the criminals to justice and to help prevent crime.”