Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the reduction in neighbourhood policing on the ability of police forces to protect vulnerable children.

It is for operationally independent Chief Constables to make decisions on the size, composition and deployment of the workforce including police community support officers, in line with local needs and priorities. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account; making the police answerable to the communities they serve.

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.