Suffolk police to receive £5.5m funding boost from government
Suffolk's police force is set to receive an extra £5.5 million in government funding next year, the Home Office has announced. The increase represents a 5.6% rise from 2023-24.
Why it matters: The funding boost is part of Labour's 'Safer Streets' mission and aims to increase the number of neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs across the county.
The big picture: The provisional increase could see Suffolk's overall policing budget rise by nearly £10 million – a 5.7% increase – enabling the force to focus on key priorities including:
- Expanding neighbourhood policing teams
- Tackling violence against women and girls
- Reducing knife crime
- Cracking down on antisocial behaviour
What they're saying: Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich and the Government's Mission Champion for the East of England, welcomed the announcement: "I am pleased to see the Government pledge an extra £5.5 million for policing in Suffolk, marking a significant real-terms funding increase. This will allow us to tackle some of the most pressing issues we face here in our county."
Behind the scenes: Forces will be required to participate in a new Commercial Efficiencies and Collaboration Programme, focusing on:
- Better fleet management
- Improved energy purchasing
- Standardised ICT contracts
Worth noting: The funding is part of a wider security investment that includes:
- A boost to counter-terrorism policing from £140 million to £1.2 billion
- Additional funding to tackle county lines crime
- Further settlements for tackling cyber-crime and fraud to be announced
The bottom line: While Abbott says he will continue to push for funding that "better recognises the multi-faceted problems" faced in Suffolk, this provisional settlement represents a significant boost to local policing resources.
Independent local journalism is expensive to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners.
Below the line