Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the number of police officers in (a) England and Wales and (b) Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement.

Decisions about the allocation of police resources and deployment of officers are for Chief Constables and democratically accountable PCCs. They are responsible for ensuring the needs of the local community are met.

In 2017, I spoke to every force in England and Wales about the changing demands they face, and how these can best be managed, including the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gloucestershire. Following this engagement, I announced the police funding settlement for 2018/19 which will see an additional £450m invested in the policing system, around £270m direct to PCCs. I understand that the Gloucestershire PCC has chosen to use his increased precept flexibility, which will provide around £3.3m additional funding for Gloucestershire Police in 2018/19. The Gloucestershire PCC has said that he will use this additional funding to improve services delivered to the public.