Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of (1) their announcement of an additional £970 million in funding for the police service in 2019, (2) the fact that each police officer costs approximately £50,000 a year, and (3) their proposals to fund an increase in police numbers of 3,500 officers, they will instead be able to fund an extra 20,000 police officers.

Police funding is increasing by over £1 billion this year, including council tax and serious violence funding. Police force spending is a decision for PCCs and Chief Constables, considering their local pressures and priorities.

The Home Secretary has committed to prioritising police funding at the next Spending Review.