§ Phil SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level he plans to set the crime fighting fund in future years; and what plans he has to fund an increase in the number of police officers. [68040]
§ Mr. DenhamUnder the Government's Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, forces have been allocated funding for 9,000 recruits over and above their previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003 which will ensure a total 130,000 officers by April 2003.
£454 million has been provided to cover the cost of officers recruited under the scheme during these three years. In addition, the Spending Review 2000 also provided £272 million for 2003–04 to meet the continuing cost of officers recruited under the CFF initiative.
Provision for funding CFF officers beyond 2003–04 is a matter for the current Spending Review. Further provision for the Crime Fighting Fund or other central government funding specifically to increase the number of police officers will be determined in the light of the outcome of the Spending Review 2002.