Northumbria PCC Susan Dungworth welcomes £100m in government funding for local policing, aiming to enhance community safety and increase police presence.
Newcastle: Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is excited about new funding. The government announced an extra £100 million for neighbourhood policing.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper shared this news, aiming to improve safety in local areas. The goal is to get more police officers on the streets.
With this funding, Northumbria Police’s budget rises to £421.1 million, a 7% increase. The government wants to add 13,000 police personnel to communities as part of its Safer Streets mission.
Dungworth expressed hope that this funding will help reduce crime. She noted that years of budget cuts can’t be fixed overnight, but this is a step in the right direction.
She looks forward to working with the Chief Constable to see how this funding will be used. The aim is to boost police presence and improve community safety.
While this funding is a positive start, Dungworth reminded everyone that police budgets still rely on local taxes. More resources mean they can do more than just maintain current levels.
She emphasized the importance of balancing the budget while ensuring the police force remains effective and efficient for Northumbria’s residents.
