Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of police funding.

Last year, I spoke to all 43 polices force in England & Wales about the demands they face. The 2018/19 funding settlement provided an increase of over £460m in total investment in the police system this financial year, including an increase of around £280m in funding for Police & Crime Commissioners through council tax precept.

In his Autumn Budget speech, the Chancellor recognised that the police are under pressure from the changing nature of crime. The Home Secretary is reviewing police spending power ahead of the 2019/20 police funding settlement to ensure the police have the resources they need.

We are continuing to work closely with the police to build the evidence base on police demand, resilience and capability.