Local MP Antony Higginbotham Antony Higginbotham has welcomed the Government's policing settlement announced this week, which has provided further funding towards 500 extra police officers recruited into Lancashire through the police uplift programme by March 2023. The settlement for 2022/23 includes an increase in the Government grant of £11.8m to £237.3m in Lancashire.
The recruitment of additional officers has already enabled Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden to commit investment into neighbourhood policing, the creation of a dedicated rape and sexual offences targeting team and extra officers into rural taskforces, alongside other key announcements made during the launch of his Police and Crime Plan on the 9th of December.
Commenting on the additional funding, Burnley and Padiham’s MP Antony Higginbotham said:
Residents in Burnley and Padiham want to see more front-line police officers on our streets, fighting crime, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.
The extra funding announced for Lancashire Constabulary is yet more proof that we are serious about delivering on the people’s priorities when it comes to tackling crime - with investment in neighbourhood policing and the creation of a dedicated rape and sexual offences targeting team.
Earlier this month our Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Snowden, launched his 'Leading the Fight Against Crime Plan', reflecting the ongoing discussions we have had together about what residents want to see. And through this new funding settlement, we can now get to work delivering on that.
Police and crime prevention funding, from both Government grant and local council tax precept, is the highest it has ever been, but equally the challenges and demands on service are far bigger than we have ever seen before.
Andrew Snowden, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner said:
The latest settlement and the further confirmation of uplift funding that puts extra officers on our streets is good news for the county and our ability to keep people safe and deliver on my priorities.
I will continue to work constructively with Priti Patel, Kit Malthouse and Lancashire MPs to secure the best possible outcomes for Lancashire and deliver what the public want to see, more investment and support for policing services that take the fight to criminals.
I will now work closely with my team and the Chief Constable through the full details of what this announcement means for Lancashire Constabulary and policing, and how we ensure we deliver on our key priorities as I lead the fight against crime and work to deliver the tough on crime, victim focused policing we want to see, in 2022 and beyond.