The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has spoken of her disappointment that Labour MP’s have this evening voted against legislation that would delivered up to an extra £450 million investment in policing.
Commenting Mims said:
“My constituents regularly speak to me about how important the police and the services that they provide are to them, their families and their communities, and I joined them in welcoming the Government’s commitment to providing extra funding at the end of last year, which locally amounts to as much as £9.6 million for Hampshire when compared with 2017/18. It is therefore disappointing that Labour MP’s have decided to vote against this legislation.”
“The Government will invest £13 billion in policing next year and as a result of the hard work under this Government, crime nationally is falling.”
“I also welcome that, as we as a nation face the worst terrorist threat in a generation, the Government continues to increase the counter terrorism policing budget, which due to the measures within this Bill will increase by 7%, meaning that at a total of £757 million, more funding than ever before will go towards counter terrorism.”
Today’s Bill - which was put before MP’s in the Commons - follows a meeting that the Eastleigh MP held with Policing Minister Nick Hurd yesterday evening, in which she raised with him both the importance to her constituents that extra funding is put in to frontline policing, while also pressing upon him the vital role that the Marine Unit in Hampshire continue to carry out.
Commenting further, Mims said:
“It was a delight to be able to meet with the Policing Minister Nick Hurd yesterday evening, who is a great ambassador for our police services. I stressed to him the importance that my constituents put upon funding for frontline policing, and welcomed his confirmation that the boost in funding to local areas would allow local police forces to decide how that extra money would best serve local residents.”
“Furthermore, having joined the Hampshire Marine Unit for one of their regular patrols at the end of last year, I was also pleased to raise with the Minister the vital role that this unit within the police carry out locally. The Solent and waters surrounding the Hampshire coastline are vital to both our economy and our security, playing host to cross-channel ferries, international cruise liners, container ships, world renowned sailing events, as well as, of course, our fishermen. It is therefore vital that those patrolling these waters continue to be properly resourced, and I was pleased that the Minister has agreed to look into this area further.”