Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Northamptonshire police, (b) West Yorkshire police and (c) the National Police Chiefs' Council on the reduction of neighbourhood policing.

This Government has provided a strong and comprehensive settlement that is increasing total investment in the police system by over £460m in 2018-19, of which more than £280m from increased council tax precept will go direct to forces to spend locally.

It is for operationally independent Chief Constables to decide how best to deploy officers in their force area to effectively serve and engage their communities and to build trust and confidence. Police and Crime Com-missioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account; making the police answerable to the communities they serve.