Essex welcomes £100m funding for policing. It addresses a £5.3m shortfall, aiding crime reduction and enhanced community safety measures.
The government is giving more money to police. It adds to £100 million already announced in December. That initial sum was for police in England and Wales. They plan to add 13,000 officers by 2029.
Roger Hirst welcomed this new funding. He is Essex’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. He also leads finance for UK police commissioners. Hirst was happy the government heard police concerns. They worried about money problems.
Hirst said they pushed hard for more money. Their earlier announcement caused worry, so change happened. These past days have been tough.
They knew their news impacted people.
The money helps Essex Police address a £5.3 million shortfall. Officers can reduce crime and improve safety. Hirst shared budget details with the Home Office. It forced some difficult choices.
He valued Essex Labour MPs’ help. They pushed for more police funding. Hirst also talked about potential job losses. These losses include PCSOs and police staff.
Hirst said cutting their jobs was the hardest choice ever. Their goal is to keep Essex Police strong. They want it to be the biggest ever. This progress started in 2016.
Essex Police will now change its budget plans. This is for the 2025/26 financial year. The government announced more funding. Hirst wants to cut crime and increase visible policing.
Neighborhood policing is key to his approach. He also prioritizes crime prevention and intervention. Hirst aims to cut crime by 40%. This is detailed in the 2024-2028 plan.
Government support aids them in meeting this goal. He will work with everyone in Essex and nationally. This ensures Essex Police get needed resources.
