NPCC Chair Martin Hewitt responds to today's Budget

National Police Chiefs' Council Chair Martin Hewitt said:

"We welcome the certainty provided to policing by the multi-year settlement and the continued funding for additional officers announced in today’s budget.

"This multi-year settlement will allow forces to focus resources into tackling priority crime areas for the public, such as violence against women and girls, county lines drug gangs and serious violent crime. The additional funding for the wider criminal justice system will help us bring offenders to justice.

"The settlement will also allow us to invest more in the skills of our officers and staff, and continue increasing the number of female and Black, Asian and other minority ethnic recruits, ensuring that policing becomes more reflective of the people we serve.

“The removal of the public sector pay freeze will be welcomed by officers and staff, and will mean that the exceptional work carried out by police teams over an incredibly challenging period can be effectively recognised in their pay. 

"We look forward to working closely with the Home Office and partners in the run up to the police pay review process."