Oral Answers to Questions

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Monday 8th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of police officers.

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of police officers in Humberside.

[Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of police officers.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kit Malthouse]

It is no surprise that so diligent a Member would take every opportunity to maximise the benefits from this enormous uplift in police officers for his constituents. While the decision on particular police stations is an operational matter for the chief constable, in consultation with the police and crime commissioner, my hon. Friend is quite right that an expansion in numbers on this scale means that all police forces should be reviewing their property strategy, to ensure that the presence he looks for in his constituency is felt across the country.

[Martin Vickers [V]]

Under the leadership of our chief constable Lee Freeman, Humberside police has made good progress from the position it was in a few years ago, and we have benefited from increased officer numbers. If we are to maintain that progress and meet the expectations of my constituents, we must continue to increase force numbers. Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that we will be able to further increase the number of officers in Humberside?

[Kit Malthouse]

In my nearly six years in the House, I have watched with admiration as my hon. Friend, terrier-like, holds the Government to their commitments; he is doing exactly the same today, and I do not blame him for it. He is quite right that we have seen a big increase in police officer numbers, but there is much more to come. We have done 6,620, which means that there are 13,000-odd yet to go. The Government’s commitment to the number of 20,000 is about as solid as it gets. It is the same as if the ravens were to leave the tower: if we fail to fulfil this promise, there will be fundamental problems and consequences for Government, not least, I am sure, from my hon. Friend.