§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the new Crime Fighting Fund will be ring-fenced for(a) the recruitment of new police officers and (b) general front-line policing responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [97738]
§ Mr. StrawMoney will be made available through the Crime Fighting Fund to recruit 5,000 more police officers over and above the number forces would otherwise have recruited over the next three years commencing in April 2000. £35 million will be ring-fenced for this purpose in year 1 with further sums being made available in years 2 and 3. The money will be ring-fenced for front-line policing. It is standard practice for newly trained recruits to be put on uniformed patrol.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Crime Fighting Fund will be distributed between police forces; and if he will make a statement. [97740]
§ Mr. StrawForces will be invited to submit bids to the Home Office for a share of the money. We are currently preparing guidance setting out the criteria which forces 587W will need to meet to benefit from the Fund. We will be discussing our proposals with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities before formally inviting bids from forces. I refer the hon. member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 4 November 1999, Official Report, column 298.