§ 22. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which funds the Chief Constable of Lancashire can apply to bid for additional funding for more police officers for 2000–01. [103983]
§ Mr. StrawAs I informed the House on 2 December 1999,Official Report, columns 194–97W, Chief Constables and police authorities in England and Wales 296W were invited on 2 December to submit bids by 10 January for a share of the Crime Fighting Fund. I placed a copy of the bidding guidelines in the Library of the House.
The fund will be used to recruit 5,000 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 allocated in the first year of the fund to kick start the scheme. Additional money will be provided in years two and three.