Oral Answers to Questions

Jessica Morden Excerpts

Monday 28th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

2. What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the number of police officers in England and Wales.

[The Minister for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service (Kit Malthouse)]

The Prime Minister has made it one of his chief priorities to strengthen police numbers over the next three years by 20,000, starting with 6,000 by the end of March 2021.

[Jessica Morden]

Gwent police’s budget has been cut by 40% in real terms since 2010, so the Government’s plans to recruit will only take us back to where we were in 2010, if that. What assurances have Ministers given Gwent police that this programme and, importantly, pension costs will be funded after the first year?

[Kit Malthouse]

I am happy to say that Gwent police are already up 42 police officers on last year’s budget settlement. A target of a further 62 has been allocated in the latest funding round. Announcements about police funding will be made as usual in early December, and I am confident that there will be smiles all round at Gwent police when we do that.