Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effects of the recent changes in neighbourhood policing levels on the police's ability to protect vulnerable children.

We recognise that it is crucial that the police have the right resources, capabilities and powers to keep the public safe. We have provided millions of pounds of extra investment through the Police Transformation Fund to transform policing to respond to changing crimes and threats including crimes against vulnerable people such as child sexual abuse.

The 2015 Spending Review protected overall police spending in real terms. We are undertaking a programme of engagement with the police to understand the impact of changing demands, and to hear how the police are managing these. That includes what more can be done to improve productivity and efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and make prudent use of financial reserves.