Sajid Javid tees up confrontation with Philip Hammond over police funding
2 min read
Sajid Javid has said he is preparing to confront Philip Hammond over police funding to ensure forces are “properly resourced”.
The Home Secretary said getting extra cash for the service was his “priority” ahead of next year’s spending review.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show: “Our police have an incredibly difficult job to do. They are seeing rising demand… from cyber crime, they are seeing a rise in reporting of historic sexual crimes, child sexual exploitation, domestic violence.
“These are things that we want our police to deal with and we have got make sure they are properly resourced.
“So, what I’ve said to the police, is that while we have increased resources dramatically in this financial year by some £460m throughout England and Wales, I want to make it a priority of mine in the next spending review next year.
Asked if the Treasury had agreed to release extra funding, he replied: “Not yet… On security, yes, because we have already made some of those announcements.
“On policing more generally we haven’t started the spending review process but when we do I’m sure the Chancellor will learn of my views.”
Labour were scathing aboout the Home Secretary's remarks, however, with Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott MP claiming he had "let slip today that there is still no new money for our over-stretched police forces."
She added: "You can't protect the public on the cheap. Rather than repeating shameless lies over police funding, the Tories should reverse their cuts to our police forces, which has seen over 20,000 officers removed from our streets since they came to power."
Elsewhere, the Home Secretary hinted at changes to key Government immigration policy, pledging a review of restrictions on doctor’s visas and saying he would “look at” the inclusion of students in immigration figures.
On limits on migrant doctor numbers he said: “It is something that I’m taking a fresh look at. I know a number of my colleagues certainly want me to take a look at this, and that’s exactly what I’m doing and I hope to think about this more carefully and see what can be done.”
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