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Sajid Javid seeks to win over police with new funding pledge Sajid Javid seeks to win over police with funding pledge
(35 minutes later)
The home secretary has signalled a departure from the Conservatives’ past approach to the police, telling officers he would prioritise getting them more money to reflect the increased demands on them.The home secretary has signalled a departure from the Conservatives’ past approach to the police, telling officers he would prioritise getting them more money to reflect the increased demands on them.
Sajid Javid told the Police Federation conference, that he wanted to “reset” the relationship between the government and police. Under previous home secretaries Theresa May and Amber Rudd it was severely strained, as police budgets were cut and officers said their terms and conditions had worsened. Sajid Javid told the Police Federation conference that he wanted to “reset” the relationship between the government and police. Under previous home secretaries Theresa May and Amber Rudd it was severely strained, as police budgets were cut and officers said their terms and conditions had worsened.
Javid told hundreds of rank and file officers in Birmingham, he accepted their central claim that they were under more strain, saying: “I’m not arrogant enough to turn up here after three weeks in the job and tell you how to do yours. What I will say is that I am listening and I get it. I get that there’s increased demand.” Javid told hundreds of rank and file officers in Birmingham that he accepted their central claim that they were under more strain, saying: “I’m not arrogant enough to turn up here after three weeks in the job and tell you how to do yours. What I will say is that I am listening and I get it. I get that there is increased demand.”
May and Rudd had maintained that crime was falling despite police budgets being reduced but Javid struck a different tone, saying: “Yes – traditional crime is over a third lower than it was in 2010 – a credit to your hard work. But more crimes – like hate crimes and sexual offences – are being reported than ever before.May and Rudd had maintained that crime was falling despite police budgets being reduced but Javid struck a different tone, saying: “Yes – traditional crime is over a third lower than it was in 2010 – a credit to your hard work. But more crimes – like hate crimes and sexual offences – are being reported than ever before.
“There’s also been a recent increase in serious violent crimes – including homicides, knife and gun crime. I am absolutely determined to put an end to the appalling violence that is terminating young lives far too soon. The threat from terrorism has also escalated and evolved.“There’s also been a recent increase in serious violent crimes – including homicides, knife and gun crime. I am absolutely determined to put an end to the appalling violence that is terminating young lives far too soon. The threat from terrorism has also escalated and evolved.
“And crime is increasingly taking place online. The internet has emboldened criminals to break the law in the most horrifying of ways...” “And crime is increasingly taking place online. The internet has emboldened criminals to break the law in the most horrifying of ways.”
But what the hundereds of delegates wanted to hear was a pledge that the new home secretary would get them more money from the government. Javid hinted he would, saying: “We’re giving PCCs [police and crime commissioners] the flexibility to increase council tax contributions to policing. But what the hundreds of delegates wanted to hear was a pledge of more money from the government. Javid hinted at it, saying: “We’re giving PCCs [police and crime commissioners] the flexibility to increase council tax contributions to policing.
“This has helped deliver a £460m increase in total police funding this year. We’re now investing over £1bn more in policing than we did three years ago, including money raised through council tax.“This has helped deliver a £460m increase in total police funding this year. We’re now investing over £1bn more in policing than we did three years ago, including money raised through council tax.
“But we need to think more about the long-term funding of the police. So, my pledge to you is this: I will prioritise police funding in the spending review next year.”“But we need to think more about the long-term funding of the police. So, my pledge to you is this: I will prioritise police funding in the spending review next year.”
Javid ended his speech saying he wanted a better relationship with the police, whose numbers have been cut by 20,000 since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.Javid ended his speech saying he wanted a better relationship with the police, whose numbers have been cut by 20,000 since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.
Javid said: “It’s often said that British policing is the envy of the world. Everyone in this room wants to keep it that way. Let’s reset the relationship between the government and the police. I will give you the tools, the powers and the back-up that you need to get the job done.Javid said: “It’s often said that British policing is the envy of the world. Everyone in this room wants to keep it that way. Let’s reset the relationship between the government and the police. I will give you the tools, the powers and the back-up that you need to get the job done.
“For those of you who stand on the frontline, be in no doubt, that I will be standing with you.”“For those of you who stand on the frontline, be in no doubt, that I will be standing with you.”
Javid said he was horrified by the violence faced by his brother, who is now a chief superintendent in the West Midlands.Javid said he was horrified by the violence faced by his brother, who is now a chief superintendent in the West Midlands.
His speech ended to warmer applause that past home secretaries have enjoyed. There was a very early and small sign the new approach may have already produced the beginning of a thaw. His speech ended to warmer applause that past home secretaries have enjoyed. There was an early and small sign the new approach may have already produced the beginning of a thaw.
One delegate, John Apter, who chairs the Hampshire Police Federation , told Javid: ”I found myself liking you a little bit.” One delegate, John Apter, who chairs the Hampshire Police Federation, told Javid: “I found myself liking you a little bit.”
Javid joked back: “Oh my God.”Javid joked back: “Oh my God.”
In his speech, the Police Federation chair, Calum Macleod, said police warnings that cuts would lead to rising crime were ignored by Javid’s predecessors as home secretary. In his speech, the Police Federation chair, Calum Macleod, said police warnings that cuts would lead to rising crime had been ignored by Javid’s predecessors as home secretary.
Macleod, who is running for reelection, told Javid: “In recent years, government has turned its back on those who it expects to keep the public safe. Real-term salaries cut. Officer numbers cut. And yet, demand increases.”Macleod, who is running for reelection, told Javid: “In recent years, government has turned its back on those who it expects to keep the public safe. Real-term salaries cut. Officer numbers cut. And yet, demand increases.”
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