Oral Answers to Questions

Stephanie Peacock Excerpts

Monday 16th October 2017 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

1. What assessment she has made of the potential connection between crime levels and changes in the level of neighbourhood policing.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber Rudd)]

Crime as measured by the Crime Survey for England and Wales has continued to fall in recent years. That includes the period after 2010, when police forces played their part in tackling the deficit by operating within reduced budgets. Decisions on deployment are rightly made by chief constables, working with their democratically accountable police and crime commissioners to meet local needs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab)]

4. What assessment she has made of the potential connection between crime levels and changes in the level of neighbourhood policing.

[Stephanie Peacock]

A quarter of my local police forces’ operational strength has been cut since 2010. When I visited police in Barnsley this weekend, they told me that they were genuinely worried about how they would continue to operate at the same level if further cuts were made. Does the Home Secretary disagree with officers such as those in Barnsley who say that additional cuts will have a severe impact on neighbourhood policing?

[Amber Rudd]

I can reassure the hon. Lady that there are no plans for further cuts, and that the police budget has been protected between 2015 and 2020. I have particular admiration for South Yorkshire police, who recently launched a new neighbourhood policing model that is moving significant resources in neighbourhood policing across the forces’ four districts. That shows exactly how well they are operating.