Read my latest news and views…
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.
£200,000 seized from criminals available to local community groups
A total of £200,000 of grant funding is available for community and voluntary groups to apply for to help reduce crime across Thames Valley.
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.
Home Office is underfunding neighbourhood police officers
Just days before the budget is set for Thames Valley Police, the Home Office has dropped another bombshell.
Not only did the funding announcement in December leave the Force £9m worse of that we expected based on the Government’s own numbers, the latest news looks set to cost a further £2m each year due to underfunding from the Home Office.
Major operation to fight serious and organised crime across Thames Valley
Thames Valley Police has started the year as it means to go on with a major operation last week across its patch targeting serious and organised criminals.
Hundreds of officers and staff came together to disrupt organised crime groups in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire who are linked to high-value motor vehicle thefts, robberies, business burglaries and other serious offences to make money illegally.
CCTV at risk in Oxfordshire due to lack of engagement from local councils
Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, warned that plans to improve CCTV in Oxfordshire are at risk as local councils refuse to join a new partnership.
Councils have continually missed deadlines and now missed funding to support improvements to CCTV across the county.