Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Chief Constable Andy Marsh will continue talks with local politicians and ministers over the ‘critical’ funding situation facing the police service.
Last month Sue Mountstevens and Chief Constable Andy Marsh wrote to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and the Policing and Fire Minister explaining that policing was being “pushed to the limits.”
On Tuesday, the PCC and the Chief Constable met with Policing and Fire Minister Nick Hurd MP at the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) summit in London.
Sue said: “We had honest and robust conversation with the Minister and I am reassured that he’s listening to our concerns.”
Throughout August the PCC and the Chief Constable plan to meet the area’s MPs, including Burnham-On-Sea’s MP James Heappey.
The meetings follow an announcement by the Office for National Statistics that crime has risen by 10% across England and Wales, the largest annual rise for a decade.
Sue Mountstevens says that policing is now at a pivotal point, adding: “The circumstances now facing the country and the police service is critical and the time to act is now,” she said.
The PCC and the Chief Constable are calling for greater government funding to invest in neighbourhood policing, armed policing and capital investment for technology.
Sue added: “Clearly any further reductions in police funding will increase the risk for all our communities and the nation. The long term safety of Avon and Somerset and the country will only be protected by a coordinated effort across policing which includes capital and revenue investment.”
“The police service not only needs frontline and specialist capability investment but also investment in technology and support functions. I will be making the argument for investment in our police service loud and clear to central government. I hope that all our local MPs join me in this important debate.”
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel also wrote to the Home Secretary on July 17th, calling for the Government to provide investment in Avon and Somerset Police.
In September, the PCC and Chief will submit an evidential case for increasing the government grant in Avon and Somerset to the Policing Minister Nick Hurd MP. There will also be national submissions from NPCC and the APCC all arguing for growth in the police budget.
