Essex delighted with added £100m funding for policing

Essex: The government has announced an extra £100 million for policing. This funding will help put 13,000 more police officers on the streets by 2029. It builds on the £100 million announced last December.

Roger Hirst, Essex’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, welcomed the news. He’s also the national finance lead for police and crime commissioners in the UK. Hirst is pleased with the government’s response to financial concerns from police forces.

He mentioned, “We’ve lobbied hard for this funding. The recent decision raised concerns but led to change.” Hirst acknowledged the impact of their earlier announcement on people’s lives.

The new funding will help cover a £5.3 million budget shortfall for Essex Police. This will allow officers to focus on reducing crime and improving community safety.

Hirst stated, “We’ve shared our budget details with the Home Office, which led to tough decisions.” He appreciated the support from Essex Labour MPs in securing more funding for local policing.

He also addressed worries about potential job losses, especially for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). “Making staff redundant is a hard decision,” he said.

Hirst emphasized the importance of maintaining the progress made since 2016. He confirmed that Essex Police will revise its budget proposals for the 2025/26 financial year due to the new funding.

“My mission is to reduce crime and ensure a visible police presence in Essex,” Hirst added. He highlighted the focus on neighborhood policing and crime prevention.

Hirst is committed to reducing crime by 40% during his term, as stated in the Police and Crime Plan 2024-2028. “This government support will help us reach that goal,” he concluded.

“I’m dedicated to working with everyone in Essex and nationally to secure the resources needed for Essex Police.”