“Last week, as part of the Chancellor’s huge tax increases, she announced changes to both the rate and the threshold for Employers’ National Insurance Contributions. Whilst publicly it has been stated that the public sector will be protected from this increase in costs, this is far from the reality in Thames Valley.

“As with any other employer, Thames Valley Police will see increased costs based on the people actually employed; but we are expecting the Home Office to allocate any additional funding on the basis of the funding formula. Therefore, even if the Government do fully reimburse policing as a whole, we expect to see a shortfall of approximately £1.3m.

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When the news broke that Thames Valley Police had lost an employment tribunal on race discrimination grounds against three white officers I made clear that the Force had acted unacceptably. I have commissioned an independent review because I want to establish the unbiased facts about the circumstances that led to the employment tribunal, and changes in policy and approach that may be needed as a result. The findings and recommendations of the review will be published in the New Year.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has published a plan to reduce deaths on the roads in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Over 180 organisations applied for over £1.4m of funding from the latest round of the Community Fund, with 43 organisations successful in receiving funding of between £500 – £7,000 to support one of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan key priorities.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has welcomed news that Thames Valley Police has delivered a 98% increase in charges for shoplifting offences across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.