Additional Neighbourhood Police Officers Confirmed

Police forces in the HFM region will receive just under £5m to bolster community policing.

The allocations have been confirmed after the government confirmed plans to get more bobbies on the beat.

Leicestershire Police has been awarded just under £3m to fund 35 additional police officers and 21 community support officers.

The Northamptonshire force will be able to take-on 49 new PC’s and 3 PCSO’s with its £1.9m.

Police in Market Harborough town centre

Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has welcomed the move, but say it will not address the force’s financial challenges.

He said: “I welcome this significant uplift in officers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

“Residents and businesses are fed up with issues such as drug dealing, alcohol and substance misuse and nuisance and anti-social behaviour on full view in their communities and expect the police to robustly restore law and order so they can feel safe again.

“Strong and effective neighbourhood policing is on everyone’s wish-list, and I am pleased that the Government has listened with the launch of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

“However, while sizeable, this extra funding does not alleviate the financial struggles many forces are facing and will continue to face as a result of increased cost pressures, inflation and a shortfall in central funding to cover national insurance hikes and the roll out of new legislation.

“I support the Government’s mission to deliver a better service for our communities, with a named and contactable officer in every neighbourhood, as these measures are essential for restoring trust. However, I will continue to seek assurances that the Government remains committed to developing a fairer and more equitable system for remunerating forces in the future that will help them increase their capabilities across the board.”