Read my latest news and views…
PCC condemns Home Office cuts to organised crime units
The Home Secretary has been accused of failing in her duty to support the fight against organised crime in the UK. Despite tough rhetoric the Government is cutting support for police officers on the ground whilst spending nearly one hundred million pounds on their top-down police reform programme.
Local Work on Youth Knife Crime to be Replicated Nationally
Operation Deter Youth is a pioneering programme that sees rapid intervention from Youth Justice Services for young people under the age of 18 arrested for knife-possession or knife-enabled offences in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, spearheaded by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber.
Now the Home Office has announced a new initiative that will see young people caught carrying knives given targeted support to steer them away from further offending.
Thames Valley Police short-changed by government over state visits
Residents in Thames Valley are being short-changed by the Home Office for not properly funding the full costs of state visits in Windsor.
In the case of the visit of President Trump last year, known as Op Liberty this means that the Force is unable to reclaim around £900,000.
53 more neighbourhood police officers planned despite Government under-funding
Last month, the Government announced the police funding settlement which for Thames Valley Police was £9m less than expected. Now the Home Office made clear that they would only fund around 40% of the cost of new officers.
Thames Valley Police £9m worse off following the Government announcement
The police settlement announced by Government yesterday confirmed Thames Valley Police’s core funding will be £8.8m less than expected, barely covering the costs of inflation and pay increases.
Will the demise of Police & Crime Commissioners save money?
The Home Office has announced the abolition of Police & Crime Commissioners, describing the role as “a failed experiment” and claiming massive savings.
In reality it is a thinly veiled move in the direction of centralisation and a loss of operational independence.