Minister for Policing KIt Malta
To kickstart recruitment of additional officers for 20,000, two years back, we made the announcement that the police budget had increased by the most in a decade.
We have made great strides in reducing crime. This year, we listened again to the public and this year I hear loud and clear from you that increasing our police force and making our streets more safe is an important priority throughout the year.
While our police are doing an extraordinary job to protect our communities, we still have much to do. Since day one, Prime Minister Blair has made it clear that reducing crime is his main goal. I fully support his determination.
Yesterday, we showed that commitment by announcing an extra £1.1 billion to help police forces to do what they do best: fight crime and protect the public.
As a result, next year, the policing system will receive up to £16.9 billion to confront crime, protect vulnerable people and create safer, more peaceful neighbourhoods.
There have been some horrific acts of violence committed against females and girls this year. I am determined to ensure that the police are equipped with the necessary resources and technology to assist victims of harassment or sexual assault as well to prosecute those who perpetrate this kind of violence.
The Home Office, with the support of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has already launched a new online tool called StreetSafe, which allows the public, particularly women and girls, to pinpoint areas on a map where they feel unsafe and why. This information will be used by the police to help improve safety in their communities.
Sabina Nassa, primary school teacher, was walking towards a pub on September 23rd when she was hit by a car.
DCC Maggie Blyth was also appointed by the government as the first-ever National Police Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls. This position is primarily focused on tackling this issue and coordinating all police actions across England and Wales. The police have pledged to increase their response to such crimes, and to challenge misogyny and sexism in the force.
And the Safety of Women at Night Fund was launched earlier this year with up to £5 million made available for projects and initiatives, including such as drink spiking detection kits, a transport safety campaign and trained staff to support safe taxi journeys, to improve the safety of women in public spaces at night.
However, we must address the danger posed by organised crime. It includes many of the most serious and harmful types of criminality within our society such as cybercrime or child sexual abuse.
Organised criminal gangs are one of the deadliest threats facing the UK today – blighting communities, ruining lives and costing the UK at least £37 billion each year. We must get on top of these issues and prove that this country is not a place for gangs.
An organised criminal gang that tried to illegally smuggle 69 Albanian migrants in the UK using a dilapidated fishing ship – with plans to bring in 50 more each week – was caught and brought to justice.
Altogether, £1.4 billion will be spent on national priorities, including taking down more county lines, reducing violent crime, and tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation, fraud and modern slavery.
Wayne Couzens (Met police) murdered Sarah Everard on March 2.
We have already made a huge impact here: since 2019, our county lines crackdown has seen over 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3m seized and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded; almost 16,000 weapons have been taken off the streets in a drive to address serious violence; and our Safer Streets Fund has seen proven crime prevention measures, such as improved street lighting and CCTV put in place in areas blighted by robbery, burglary and vehicle theft.
And we’re going further and faster – as evidenced in our ten-year drug strategy published last week, which sets out the biggest ever increase in funding for treatment and recovery service, plus a commitment to dismantle 2,000 more county lines.
None of this would be possible without the sizeable increase in police numbers we know the PM would like to see – and I know that Mail Online readers, like so many people around the country, also want to see more officers on the beat!
Our progress has been remarkable, and we’ve already recruited over 11,000 officers in England, Wales, and are now more than half way to our target.
Every new recruit makes a valuable addition to their team and adds another person to our cause to combat crime and protect innocent people.
However, we cannot remain still. We must be alert to the changing criminal threats.
It is our duty to stand up for the law-abiding majority and fight against those who exploit the weak, inflict pain on innocent victims, or cause violence on our streets.
You must be determined and focused to accomplish this mission. The police funding agreement shows that we will not stop trying to combat crime and protect the public.