PCC opens consultation on police funding - have your say!
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, has launched a survey seeking the public view on an increase in the police element of the council tax by £2 a month (the equivalent for a band D property).
In response to the exceptional operational demands on the police, particularly in areas such as Thames Valley, the Government is increasing the funding available to PCCs in England and Wales by up to £813 million. This is provided all PCCs increase their council tax for a Band D household by £2 a month (for an average Band D household). This new settlement will mean that forces can continue to provide an effective service, against the rising tide of demand and complexity in their critical work to fight crime and protect the public.
The extra cash generated from the proposed increase in council tax will be spent on operational policing. The draft budget for 2019/20 provides additional funding to:
- Increase Local Frontline Policing
- Improve our investigation capacity and process
- Improve 101 telephone response times
- Increasing our digital capability
- Sustainable funding for the capital programme to invest in technology and infrastructure
The survey and more background information can be found by clicking the link below.
Have your say on police funding
£100,000 available to support community projects from cash seizures
Applications have just closed for the latest round of Police Property Act Funding. The Fund, which is jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, is created from money recovered by the police and the proceeds from the sale of items that cannot be returned to identified owners, including seizures from criminals.
The funding is available to community groups and charities who support the aims of the PCC's Police & Crime Plan. The money cannot be used to support operational policing.
Although this round of funding has now closed to new applications there will be future rounds. For more information visit:
https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/police-property-act-fund/
Home Office confirms additional funding for Thames Valley
This year, Thames Valley Police has policed a number of internationally significant events, including the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May and the visit from The President of the United States in July. The effective policing of these events has been widely praised and ensured the safety and security of all involved.
In November the PCC submitted an application for Special Grant Funding to the Home Office for the full cost of both these operations.
The application was considered by the Home Office who have confirmed we have been successful in our application and will award us 100 per cent of our direct costs for both these operations.
The total recovered for the policing operation surrounding the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is £2,364,690. The total recovered for the policing operation surrounding the visit from The President of the United States is £5,476,205. This covers all the additional costs incurred by Thames Valley Police and does not cover internal costs such as the deployment of our own resources.
Recruiting to the PCC's team to tackle gangs
Thames Valley PCC has recently been successful in bidding for over £800,000 of funding from the Home Office to tackle gangs, knife crime and youth violence. The funding is part of the Government's Early Intervention Youth Fund.
We are working with the Police and local authorities across the Thames Valley to make targeted interventions that will make a real difference in reducing youth violence. As part of the project we are now recruiting a project manager and a crime analyst. Click here for more information about these positions and other jobs with Thames Valley Police.
Chief Constable recruitment update
Following the announcement that Chief Constable Francis Habgood is leaving Thames Valley Police at the end of March 2019 the Police & Crime Commissioner has launched the process to recruit a new Chief Constable.
Thames Valley Police is the largest non-metropolitan police force in England and Wales, and covers a highly diverse area composed of both major towns and cities and large areas of countryside. In addition to its normal roles, Thames Valley Police hosts both the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and the South East Counter Terrorism Unit.
Since 2010, the Force has managed to come through both the Government’s austerity programme of funding reductions and an ever increasing demand on the service and has done so without significant cuts in the front line. However, the coming years will continue to be difficult, and it will require considerable leadership, innovation and resource management skills to take Thames Valley Police through this further period of challenge without a drop in performance.
The closing date for applicants is Monday 31 December at 4pm with interviews scheduled for 10 – 11 January 2019.
The Police and Crime Panel will review the PCC’s appointment process and consider the preferred candidate at a confirmation hearing on Friday 1 February.
For more information about the application process visit: www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/chief-constable
